Anyone around who knows about alcohol licences ( premises and/or personal licences) and can answer some questions please?

[LicenceQuery]

I've been asked about doing a course and being a named person on my workplace's alcohol licence but want to check a few things first so wondered if anyone here has experience in this area.

I'm not getting far with Googling as it's not a straightforward set-up which complicates matters (not a bar, restaurant, club or usual setting)

I’m happy to answer any questions on this.
worked in licensed trade for donkeys beards.
and yes google is never very helpful with licensing 😂

@Verylongweek donkeys beards?! 😂

Thank you for offering to try and answer my questions. I'm unsure of the terminology and whether we're talking about a premises or personal licence so bear with me.

I'm not directly involved with selling/serving the alcohol and unlikely that I'd even be on the premises at these times anyway. As I understand it I wouldn't be ultimately responsible but one of a few named people. There have never been any problems at this place in the past around the licencing so it's not as though it's high risk in that way.

Essentially I'm wondering if there are any pros or cons to being a named person on the licence. Is there anything I need to know?

Have you been asked to just get your personal license?

I'm not sure - it was a quick initial conversation and as I'm not sure of the terminology and also googled a few things afterwards I'm a tad confused.

I wouldn't be the sole named person for the location though

It would involve a course and exam though

It's just a personal licence. You always need someone with a personal license present to ensure the licensing laws are being followed.

It's good business sense to have multiple options incase of sickness or other absence. So in the event that their main go to managers are off you will be that person present

@Bigbadfish ...so as one of several named people would the buck ever stop with me if there was ever a problem?

It just seems odd as I'm not directly involved with anything to do with the serving or consumption of alcohol there, and unlikely to even be there for any event. I just want to make sure that I'm not potentially some sort of scapegoat.

Are you in England as there are different licensing conditions across wales etc.

If you are, a premises would only have one DPS (designated premises supervisor) and they are ultimately responsible (within reason) for the safe sale for alchol on the premises.
they don’t have to be there at all times and each member of staff would need to sign something saying when they start saying the dps is giving them permission to serve booze on their behalf.
I know you said it’s not a standard premises, but I can’t think of an instance where you would have more than one. I would recommend a venue have more than one licence holder so that if the DPS leaves the job it is easy to transfer to them without the need to do courses etc.

personally I would only be DPS for a premises where I was heavily involved in training/supervising team etc as yes you are responsible.

by all means let them but you through getting your licence (it’s handy to have) but I wouldn’t be the names DPS.

Thank you @Verylongweek .

Yes we are in England and, from your post, I think my boss must be the DPS as I know he said something about the ultimate responsibility being with him. I certainly wouldn't want that role!

There was just something that made me a bit uneasy as to why I was being approached and what it might entail as, like I said, I'm not directly involved. I don't want to go into this blind!

If you were the only license holder present then it would be your responsibility to ensure the licensing laws are followed.

It’s incorrect that there must be a licence holder present at all times in England.

The only possible repercussion is that if you personally made an error in service the punishment could potentially be more sever for you than someone who did not hold one.

but licence holder or not you have zero responsibility for how others upholder the licensing laws, unless you are the DPS. As mentioned I would suggest extra license holders in any business, but purely so if the DPS left it could be changed straight over.

I would just ask outright why they want to?

Very long week** is spot on...! There is absolutely no requirement to have a personal licence holder on site, merely that appropriate training has been delivered to the server.