Designated Premises Supervisor Responsibilities
BIIAB learning outcome 8: the role and legal responsibilities of the designated premises supervisor.
How to study for the APLH assessment
Build the licensing structure first, then practise separating people, premises, permissions, duties, offences, exceptions and authority powers.
Core concepts
Concept 1
A premises licence authorising alcohol sales normally specifies one DPS, and that individual must hold a personal licence.
Exam cue: Check whether the issue concerns the named DPS, another personal licence holder or the premises licence holder.
Concept 2
The DPS is the readily identifiable person normally given day-to-day responsibility for the premises, but responsibility for compliance is shared with the premises licence holder and other responsible persons.
Exam cue: Do not infer a statutory requirement for the DPS to be physically present for every sale.
Concept 3
Every alcohol sale under the premises licence must be made or authorised by a personal licence holder, although the authorising holder need not personally witness each transaction.
Exam cue: Look for the community-premises exception before applying the usual DPS and personal-authorisation conditions.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Assuming every personal licence holder employed at the premises is the DPS.
Guardrail: Do not rely on former renewal rules, temporary TEN limits, Scottish licensing law, informal workplace custom or a broad exception where the statute is narrow.
Treating delegation of sales authority as a transfer of the DPS's compliance responsibilities.
Guardrail: Do not rely on former renewal rules, temporary TEN limits, Scottish licensing law, informal workplace custom or a broad exception where the statute is narrow.
Continuing alcohol sales when no DPS is specified or the named DPS's personal licence is suspended.
Guardrail: Do not rely on former renewal rules, temporary TEN limits, Scottish licensing law, informal workplace custom or a broad exception where the statute is narrow.
Memory anchors
One Named DPS
A premises licence authorising alcohol sales normally names one designated premises supervisor.
Personal Licence Required
The named DPS must hold a valid personal licence.
Day-to-Day Contact
The DPS is normally the person with day-to-day responsibility who can be identified by authorities and staff.
Authorised Sales
Alcohol sales under a premises licence must be made or authorised by a personal licence holder.
Presence Is Not the Test
The authorising personal licence holder need not stand beside every sale, but the authorisation must be real and effective.
Community Exception
Qualifying community premises may obtain an alternative condition that removes the usual DPS and personal-authorisation requirements.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
What is the main purpose of naming a DPS?
How many DPSs may normally be specified on one premises licence at a time?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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