If you’re wondering how long a personal alcohol licence lasts, or whether you need to renew it, the answer is straightforward. In England and Wales, a personal licence has no expiry date. It remains valid indefinitely from the date it was issued and is portable throughout England and Wales.
In other words, no renewal is required. Personal licence holders can continue to authorise alcohol sales for life. However, that wasn’t always the case.
A Personal Licence Once Had to be Renewed
There used to be a time when licence holders had to renew their personal licences after 10 years and also had to complete additional personal licence retraining. But as a result of the Deregulation Act 2015, the Government decided to remove the requirement to renew personal licences, and this was implemented on 1 April 2015.
This is a great advantage for anyone looking or thinking of applying for a personal licence, as this means there is no need to pay for additional retraining or renewal of the licence.
Recommended Reading: What Is a Personal Licence?
You Must Keep Your Details Up to Date
During the lifetime of your licence, you have a legal duty to notify the Licensing Authority of any change to your name or address. Failure to do so is an offence under the Licensing Act 2003.
Can You Ever Lose Your Personal Licence?
Yes. While the licence doesn’t expire, it can still be taken away. Under the Licensing Act 2003, a personal licence can be:
- Surrendered — if you voluntarily give it up
- Suspended — by a court for up to 6 months, or by the licensing authority
- Forfeited or revoked — by a court upon conviction for a relevant offence, or by the licensing authority
Relevant offences include crimes involving violence, dishonesty, drugs, firearms, and offences under the Licensing Act itself. If you’re convicted of a relevant offence, you must notify the court that you hold a Personal Licence. Failure to do so is itself a criminal offence.
What About Personal Licence Renewal in Scotland?
The rules are different in Scotland. If you hold a Scottish Personal Licence, you do need to renew it. Under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005:
- A Scottish Personal Licence is valid for 10 years and must be renewed
- Licence holders must complete refresher training every 5 years
- Failure to complete refresher training results in automatic revocation
If you work in Scotland, make sure you’re aware of your renewal and training deadlines.
Get a Personal Licence
A personal licence allows you to authorise the sale of alcohol at licensed premises. To get one in England or Wales, you’ll need to pass the APLH (Award for Personal Licence Holders) course first. This personal alcohol licence course teaches you about licensing law and your responsibilities. Once you’ve passed, you can apply to your local council. If you’d rather skip the paperwork, our Easy Apply service handles the entire application for you.
You’ll also need a basic DBS check as part of your application. For a full breakdown of the process, see our guide on how to apply for a personal licence.
Ready to get started? Book your APLH course today and access free e-learning!
