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Personal Alcohol Licenses to stay

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A recent government announcement revealed that Personal Alcohol Licences will not be abolished after hearing the views received from stakeholders during a two-month consultation by the Home Office.

A basic disclosure certificate is required for a personal alcohol licence and has to be under 1 month old in order to be used in a personal alcohol licence application. CRB Checks for the hospitality industry are also popular with businesses employing key holders and cash handlers in their establishments.

As part of a wider strategy by the Government they requested views on abolishing the requirement to renew a personal licence every 10 years. They proposed to replace this with targeted and local alternatives which were expected to save businesses approximately £10m per year.

However 352 responses received were largely against the proposal;

• 90% of the respondents believed it would undermine the licensing objectives
• 72% said the proposal would not reduce burdens in relation to time and money
• 78% thought most of the premises would require training conditions

The Institute of Alcohol Studies commented on the proposal stating that the abolition of Personal Alcohol Licences would ‘undermine the licensing objectives as well as weakening the needed social awareness that, in view of its health and social impact, alcohol is not an ordinary commodity, and therefore special safeguards are needed in relation to its sale and consumption’.

Kate Nicholls from ALMR also commented on the decision: “We are pleased that the government has seen sense and decided to retain the well-regarded personal licence system, which has enhanced standards and contributed to increased professionalism across the industry. “Removing the personal licence would have been a retrograde step certain to result in additional bureaucracy at a local level. Nationally-recognised qualifications are crucial if we are to foster sustainable investment in training and allow businesses a fair and level playing field in which to trade.”