Personal alcohol licence

You will need a personal licence if you intend: 

• to authorise the sale or supply of alcohol under a premises licence
• to become a designated premises supervisor on a premises licence
• to increase the number of Temporary Event Notices (TENs) you can apply for 

Apply for a personal alcohol licence

Changing details on a personal licence 

 If you move address or change your name you must let us know. You will always deal with South Cambridgeshire District Council even if you move out of the district.

Apply for a change of name/address/replacement

Licence expiry 

All new and existing personal licences no longer need to be renewed. If you hold a personal licence with an expiry date you do not need to worry, as all agencies are aware of this change and will ignore the expiry date. If you would prefer to have a personal licence with the expiry date removed from it, you can request this from us. You’ll need to pay £10.50  and you must return your old licence with your request.  

Right to Work in the United Kingdom

It is a criminal offence to employ a person at a licensed premise who does not have the right to live or work in the UK.

Any person applying for a personal alcohol licence must give proof that they are allowed to live and work in the UK. Proof of residence (where you live) is a requirement for all personal alcohol licence applications.  

If you don’t give evidence of this, then we can’t process your application. We may check your immigration status with the Home Office and share information with them.  

It should be noted that if a person no longer has the right to live and work within the UK, then any personal licence issued will lapse (will no longer be valid). As such it is important the applicant provides updated documents to us in good time before their right to live or work in the UK expires. 

UK nationals will normally prove their right to work by giving a copy of: 

• UK passport (current or expired) or a UK birth certificate and
• a document from a government agency or previous employer which mentions the person's national insurance number and their name  

Irish Citizens

Irish citizens have the right to work in the UK. They can normally prove their right to work by giving a copy of: 

• Irish passport or Irish passport card (current or expired) or Irish birth or adoption certificate and 
• a document from a government agency or previous employer which mentions the person's national insurance number and their name.  

Irish citizens can also apply for a frontier worker permit. This permit can be issued digitally or as a physical permit, so they can prove their right to work using the Home Office right to work service.

European Economic Area (EEA) citizens - EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) 

EEA citizens and their family members need to have an immigration status in the UK. Most EEA citizens prove their right to work using the Home Office right to work service. They cannot use an EEA passport or national identity card to prove their right to work. 

If an EEA citizen has been given 'settled status' by the Home Office, they will have a continuous right to work. If an EEA citizen has been given 'pre-settled status' by the Home Office, they will have a time-limited right to work.  

Supporting Documents

As well as proving your right to work, all applications must be supported by: 

• a criminal record search no older than 1 month when received by us. It must also be the original document. See guidance notes section below for more details. 
• an accredited personal licence holder qualification. It must be the original document. See guidance notes section below for more details 
• a passport style photo which is a true likeness of you and which needs to be confirmed by someone else known as a prescribed person. The prescribed person must state their authority to sign for example a solicitor, teacher, professional qualification holder. See guidance notes section below for more details 

Charged with an offence

If you are charged with a relevant offence under the Licensing Act 2003 you must tell the Magistrates' Court which is hearing your case on the first time you appear before them that you hold a personal licence. If you’re convicted of the offence (found guilty) you must give us the full details of the conviction. If the offence happens during the application period, you must tell us immediately. 

We have the power to suspend a personal licence for up to 6 months, or revoke (take away) the personal licence.