What is a DPS

What is a DPS?

D.P.S. is an abbreviation for the term Designated Premises Supervisor. We often get asked what a DPS is and what does it mean? So let us explain in simple terms.....

A Designated Premises Supervisor, or DPS, is an individual who holds a personal licence to sell alcohol and is nominated on to a premise licence as the licensee, the main point of contact in other words for any responsible authority including the police where the licensed premises is situated. 

A Designated Premises Supervisor should be the person in day to day control of licensed premises and should ideally be contactable at all times. A Designated Premises Supervisor has the responsibility to ensure licensed premises are run lawfully.

How do you become a Designated Premises Supervisor?

To become a Designated Premises Supervisor you must hold a valid personal licence that has been issued by a local council's licensing authority. A personal licence will allow the holder to do three things;

1. Be named on a premise licence as acting Designated Premises Supervisor
2. Sell alcohol by retail under a premise licence
3. Authorise sales of alcohol under a premise licence by others who do not hold a personal licence

What training do I need to become a Designated Premises Supervisor

To become a Designated Premises Supervisor you only need to give your consent in writing to be named on the premise licence, however you must be the holder of a personal licence. To hold a personal licence you must undertake training for the award for personal licence holders (APLH) level 2. There is a dedicated training program for Designated Premises Supervisor's known as the Award for Designated Premises Supervisors Level 3. This qualification can only be undertaken once the APLH level 2 has been completed.

Most individuals who undertake training for the Award for Designated Premises Supervisors Level 3 qualification would normally be a supermarket, night club manager or people with a supervisory role in a large organisation. However, Police or Licensing Committees may insist on additional training for a Designated Premises Supervisor after a licence hearing.

To find out information on personal licence holder courses please visit our main website.

www.personallicence.com