Challenge 25 or Challenge 21 What is the best policy?

Deciding which is the best challenge policy for your business can be a difficult choice, however we advise that for high street retailers such as an off licence businesses or a mini market, challenge 25 is the best policy and one that is adopted by most of the big supermarket chains. Pubs and bars tend to stick with challenge 21 but not all in some areas many bars and pubs are now choosing to operate a challenge 25 policy.

So lets try and explain the difference! with challenge 21 you only have a 3 years between the age of 18 and 21, but with the challenge 25 policy the gap is 7 years, therefore staff are less likely to make a mistake when asking for proof of age. An unauthorised sale of alcohol to a trading standards test purchaser will lead to an on the spot fine for the person involved and an interview under caution at the local police station or trading standards office which may also then lead to a criminal prosecution in Magistrates Court.

The maximum fine under the licensing Act 2003 for selling alcohol to an underage person is currently £5,000
Another concideration for retailers to be aware of is Section 147A of the licensing Act 2003 "persistently selling alcohol to children"

Section 147A makes it an offence to sell alcohol to a child under 18 from the same premises on two or more occasions within a period of three consecutive months. The section applies to the person being responsible in relation to the premises at the time of each sale.


It should be noted that there is an alternative to criminal prosecution for the offence of persistently selling alcohol to children. Under section 169 A of the Licensing Act 2003, a closure notice may be given where there is evidence that an offence under section 147A is committed, there is considered to be a realistic prospect of conviction and the offender is still a holder of a premises licence in relation to the relevant premises. A closure notice shall propose a prohibition on sales of alcohol on the relevant premises not to exceed 48 hours. The form of a closure notice is prescribed in The Licensing Act 2003 (Persistent Selling of Alcohol to Children) (Prescribed Form of Closure Notice) Regulations 2007, which came into force on 3 May 2007.

A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level £10,000.

You can download a free "Challenge 25 Poster" by clicking here

NCPLH qualification

The NCPLH qualification is no longer valid! the NCPLH has now been replaced by the Award for Personal Licence Holders - Level 2 or APLH for short. The alcohol licensing qualification for Scotland remains the same (SCPLH). Personal Licence Training Limited (PLT) are the UK's leading course provider for alcohol licensing qualifications in England, Wales and Scotland. We process thousands of personal alcohol licence qualifications and full licence applications every year. If you are looking to gain your personal licence or wish to up date your licensing qualification to an APLH Level 2 please contact us at Personal Licence Training Limited.

The UK's Favorite Licensing Company!

Tel:01527 544 780

Temporary licence to sell alcohol

As a Company we specialise in arranging new premises licence applications and temporary event licence applications for both small (under 500 patrons) and large events of in excess of 10,000 patrons. In the past we have helped our clients to obtain alcohol licence applications for music events, festivals, shows, school fates, out door ice rinks, German markets, weekend events in locations throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Our licensing team are experts in this field and can assist with all types of event licensing and personal licence training. We have arranged personal licence applications and temporary events for most of London's leading event companies whom work at locations such as Wembley, Earls Court, NIA, NEC, Royal Show-ground, etc.

If we can help on any event you have planned then please call Jo Taylor from our licensing team,

Tel: 01527 544780

Premises Licence Application Service New from PLT

Personal Licence Training Ltd (PLT) are set to introduce a new licence application service for solicitors and law firms. The new packaging service is aimed at solicitors and law firms who do not specialise in premises licence applications, but can add another string to their bow by offering both premises licence applications and personal licence applications to their list of services they offer to their clients. If you are a law firm, solicitor or introducer then PLT would like to here from you if you feel this service could be of value to your business. PLT have been actively involved in alcohol licensing since 1992 and can provide alcohol licence training courses in over 120 locations throughout Britain.

The company can also assist with planning and change of use for restaurants and fast food outlets and all aspects of licensing a new premises. Every week PLT secure new premises licence applications for their clients and have a reputation to get a licence granted. over the past twelve month PLT’s licensing team have achieved a 98% success rate on all new applications

If you are interested in becoming a licence introducer and taking advantadge of PLT licence application packaging service please contact;

Dean Carr or Jo Taylor at Personal Licence Training Ltd. Tel: 01527 544 780

Download a free brochure

Personal Licence Training Ltd: New off licence applications granted

Personal Licence Training Ltd: New off licence applications granted

Personal Licence Training Ltd: New off licence applications granted

Personal Licence Training Ltd: New off licence applications granted: Several new full off licence applications where granted last week with thanks to our expert licensing team here at Personal Licence Training...

New off licence applications granted

Several new full off licence applications where granted last week with thanks to our expert licensing team here at Personal Licence Training Limited (PLT). In a bid to increase business turnover the company is expanding it's licensing team to cope with the sudden influx of new premises licence applications and planning applications.
Last week PLT saw new off licence applications granted in Lambeth, London for Stockwell Supermarket. Hounslow, London for Express Food & Wine, Leicester for R & K News & off Licence, Baguette Du Monde, Bull Ring Shopping Centre, Birmingham and Alasya Restaurant in London.
A company spokes person for PLT said that "the demand for new premises licence applications and applications for off licence premises and mini markets had increased over the last six months. PLT had also provided it's licensing services to several high profile Schools and Universities and had also quoted on applications for several major high street retailers. However the major players in the alcohol retailing sector seem to be the independent retailers who are finding that retailing alcohol from their premises can attracted more trade to their business and help increase turnover." A recent news article on www.alcohollicence.org may have sparked an up turn in the demand as off licensed premises where linked underage drinking issues
and may have worried some retailers to apply sooner than later.