SIA Door Licensing Law — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Licensing Act 2003, which of the following is NOT one of the four licensing objectives?
- The prevention of crime and disorder
- Public safety
- Maximising profit for the licensee (Correct answer)
- The protection of children from harm
Correct answer: Maximising profit for the licensee
The four licensing objectives are: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. Maximising profit is not a licensing objective.
Question 2: What is a 'Designated Premises Supervisor' (DPS)?
- Any member of door staff
- The person named on the premises licence who has day-to-day responsibility for the licensed premises (Correct answer)
- A police officer assigned to the venue
- The local council's licensing officer
Correct answer: The person named on the premises licence who has day-to-day responsibility for the licensed premises
The DPS is the individual named on the premises licence who holds a personal licence and has overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the premises in relation to licensable activities.
Question 3: What is the minimum age at which a person can buy alcohol in the UK?
- 16
- 17
- 18 (Correct answer)
- 21
Correct answer: 18
In the UK, it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18 years of age. This is a key provision of the Licensing Act 2003.
Question 4: What does 'Challenge 25' mean?
- Customers must be 25 to enter the venue
- Staff should ask for ID from anyone who appears to be under 25 years old (Correct answer)
- The venue can serve up to 25 underage customers
- It is a type of premises licence
Correct answer: Staff should ask for ID from anyone who appears to be under 25 years old
Challenge 25 is a policy where staff challenge anyone who appears to be under 25 to prove they are 18 or over before being served alcohol. It provides a safety margin above the legal age of 18.
Question 5: Which forms of identification are acceptable as proof of age under UK licensing law?
- Any photo ID
- Passport, driving licence, or PASS-accredited proof of age card (Correct answer)
- Student ID and bank cards
- Social media profiles showing date of birth
Correct answer: Passport, driving licence, or PASS-accredited proof of age card
Acceptable forms of ID are: a valid passport, a photo driving licence, or a card bearing the PASS hologram (Proof of Age Standards Scheme). These are the only forms recognised by UK licensing law.
Question 6: It is an offence to serve alcohol to a person who is drunk. Under which Act is this provision?
- The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
- The Licensing Act 2003 (Correct answer)
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- The Equality Act 2010
Correct answer: The Licensing Act 2003
Section 141 of the Licensing Act 2003 makes it an offence to knowingly sell or attempt to sell alcohol to a person who is drunk on relevant premises.
SIA Door Licensing Law
Under the Licensing Act 2003, which of the following is NOT one of the four licensing objectives?