Personal licences syllabus published

The Government has published the syllabus for the qualification that all new personal licence applicants must hold under the rules of the new Licensing Act. With the reform, all new applicants for a personal licence need to take an accredited training course and pass an exam. Under so-called "grandfather rights", licensees who currently hold a justice's licence will be able to apply for a personal licence during the transitional period, from March to September 2004, without having to complete the training. The announcement last week allays fears among those in the trade that everyone would have to undertake certified training, regardless of their existing experience or qualifications. However, new applicants will have to pass an exam covering nearly 70 topics, including the strength of different intoxicating drinks, how alcohol acts in the body, drink driving, Pubwatch schemes, and police powers, as well as the more obvious subjects, such as how personal and premises licences work, the role of licensing authorities, operating schedules and children on licensed premises. The Government says the aim of the qualification is to "ensure licence holders are aware of licensing law and the wider social responsibilities attached to the sale of alcohol". The new Licensing Act says sales of drink anywhere with a premises licence can only be made or authorised by a personal licence holder, and each outlet must have a designated premises supervisor, who must also hold a personal licence. Courses leading to the personal licence qualification are likely to be run by colleges and organisations, such as the British Institute of Innkeeping, accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority or the Qualifications Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales "and possibly others", according to the Government. Under the new Licensing Act rules, personal licences will need to be renewed every 10 years.