How to obtain licences for selling alcohol

To legally sell alcohol alongside your floral arrangements in the UK, you must hold two separate authorisations: a Personal Licence for yourself and a Premises Licence for your shop or studio. It is a criminal offence under the Licensing Act 2003 to sell alcohol without both of these in place, and doing so can result in unlimited fines or even prison time. The process involves a background check, a formal qualification, and a 28-day public consultation period for your business location.

1. Obtain your Personal Licence

The Personal Licence allows you to sell alcohol and authorises others to do so on your behalf. To apply, you must be over 18 and follow these steps:

• Complete a training course: You must pass an accredited "Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders" (APLH). Many providers offer this as a one-day course or online.
• Apply for a Basic DBS check: You need a recent criminal record check (less than one month old) to prove you have no relevant "unspent" convictions.
• Submit your application: Apply to the local council where you live, not where your business is located. You will need to provide your training certificate, your DBS check, two passport-sized photos (one of which must be endorsed by a professional), and the application fee (usually around £37).

2. Apply for a Premises Licence

While the Personal Licence is about you, the Premises Licence is about your shop. This licence specifies exactly where and when alcohol can be sold.

The application process is more public and involves the following:

• The Operating Schedule: You must describe how your business will promote the four licensing objectives: preventing crime and disorder, ensuring public safety, preventing public nuisance, and protecting children from harm.
• The Plan: You must provide a clear scale drawing of your premises, highlighting exactly where the alcohol will be stored and sold.
• The Blue Notice: You are legally required to display a notice on pale blue paper in your shop window for 28 consecutive days to allow the public to comment.
• The Newspaper Advert: You must also place a notice in a local newspaper within 10 working days of submitting your application.

The fee for a Premises Licence is based on the "non-domestic rateable value" of your shop, but for most small florists, it falls into the lowest bands (around £100–£190).

3. Appoint a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)

Every business with a Premises Licence must name a Designated Premises Supervisor. This person must hold a Personal Licence and is the main point of contact for the police and the council. In a small floristry business, this will almost always be you, the owner.

4. Implement the 'Challenge 25' Policy

Once you have your licences, you must comply with mandatory conditions. The most important for a florist selling online or in-store is age verification.

"Challenge 25" is a retail strategy where anyone who looks under 25 is asked for proof of age. This provides a safety net for your staff and helps ensure you never accidentally sell alcohol to a minor.

If you are delivering flowers with wine or champagne, you must ensure your delivery driver (or courier) also follows this policy and checks ID at the doorstep if the recipient looks young.

Summary of Requirements

Requirement	Applies To	Validity
Personal Licence	The Individual	Indefinite (unless revoked)
Premises Licence	The Building	Indefinite (requires annual fee)
Level 2 APLH Cert	Personal Licence Applicant	Needed for initial application
DBS Check	Personal Licence Applicant	Must be less than 1 month old

Tips for Success

• Talk to the Licensing Officer: Before submitting your formal application, call your local council's licensing department. They are often very helpful and can review your draft application to ensure you haven't missed anything.
• Budget for 'Hidden' Costs: While the application fees are relatively low, you also need to pay for the training course, the DBS check, and the local newspaper advert, which can cost £100–£300 depending on the publication.
• Maintain a Refusals Log: Keep a notebook (or digital record) of every time you refuse a sale because of lack of ID. This proves to the authorities that you are taking your responsibilities seriously.