Who Needs the SCPLH and a Personal Licence in Scotland?

This page is general guidance, not legal advice.

Personal licence holders

In Scotland, every sale of alcohol on licensed premises must be authorised by the premises manager or another personal licence holder. If your job will involve authorising sales, you will need a personal licence, and to get one you need to pass the accredited SCPLH.

People who often hold a personal licence include:

• Pub, bar and restaurant managers
• Hotel duty managers
• Shop and off-licence managers
• Event organisers who regularly run licensed events

Premises managers

Every licensed premises with a premises licence must name a premises manager, and that person must hold a personal licence. If you are being lined up as a premises manager, check how long the business has to replace you if you leave, and make sure your own licence and refresher are up to date.

Bar and shop staff

Staff who sell or serve alcohol but do not authorise sales do not need a personal licence. They do need mandatory staff training, which in Scotland is a separate course of at least 2 hours. The premises manager usually arranges this and keeps the training records.

Eligibility rules

To apply for a personal licence you must:

• Be 18 or over
• Hold the accredited SCPLH
• Not have had a personal licence revoked within the last 5 years

Some convictions can affect an application. Police Scotland may comment on your application and the Board can hold a hearing.

Is our course right for you?

Our course is a good fit if you plan to sit the accredited SCPLH exam and want to study first. It costs £30 + VAT, takes about 5 hours, and includes a course quiz with unlimited retries plus two course certificates. It does not replace the accredited SCPLH exam, and it is not the mandatory staff training for bar or shop staff.

See what the course covers

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