Personal Licence (APLH) Practice Test 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   How many licensing objectives are set out in the Licensing Act 2003?

   • A5
   • B4
   • C6
   • D3
   Show answer

   Answer: B. 4

   Section 4 sets four objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Which of these is one of the licensing objectives in the Licensing Act 2003?

   • AIncreasing tourism
   • BKeeping drink prices low
   • CThe protection of children from harm
   • DRaising tax revenue
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   Answer: C. The protection of children from harm

   Protecting children from harm is one of the four objectives. The others are crime and disorder, public safety and public nuisance.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Which of these is also a licensing objective in England and Wales?

   • AReducing business rates
   • BEncouraging late opening
   • CThe prevention of public nuisance
   • DSupporting local breweries
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   Answer: C. The prevention of public nuisance

   Preventing public nuisance, such as noise and disturbance near premises, is one of the four licensing objectives.

4. Question 4 of 25

   How important is each licensing objective compared with the others?

   • APublic nuisance is the least important
   • BThe licensing authority ranks them each year
   • CCrime and disorder always comes first
   • DAll four are equally important
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   Answer: D. All four are equally important

   The section 182 guidance says each objective is of equal importance.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Which parts of the UK does the Licensing Act 2003 cover?

   • AEngland and Wales
   • BThe whole of the UK
   • CEngland only
   • DScotland and Northern Ireland
   Show answer

   Answer: A. England and Wales

   The Licensing Act 2003 applies in England and Wales. Scotland has the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, and Northern Ireland has its own law.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Under the Licensing Act 2003, who are the licensing authorities?

   • AMagistrates' courts
   • BHM Revenue and Customs
   • CLocal councils, such as district, borough and unitary councils
   • DPolice forces
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   Answer: C. Local councils, such as district, borough and unitary councils

   Section 3 makes local councils the licensing authorities. They grant premises licences, personal licences and club premises certificates, and receive temporary event notices.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Who issues the statutory guidance to licensing authorities under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003?

   • AThe Home Secretary (Home Office)
   • BThe Food Standards Agency
   • CHM Revenue and Customs
   • DThe British Beer and Pub Association
   Show answer

   Answer: A. The Home Secretary (Home Office)

   The Secretary of State at the Home Office issues the section 182 guidance. Licensing authorities must have regard to it.

8. Question 8 of 25

   How often must a licensing authority publish its statement of licensing policy?

   • AEvery year
   • BEvery 10 years
   • CAt least every 5 years
   • DOnly once, when the Act started
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   Answer: C. At least every 5 years

   Section 5 requires each licensing authority to determine and publish its licensing policy at least every five years, and to keep it under review.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Under the Licensing Act 2003, "alcohol" means drinks with a strength of more than:

   • A0.05% ABV
   • B1.2% ABV
   • C0.5% ABV
   • D2.8% ABV
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   Answer: C. 0.5% ABV

   Section 191 defines alcohol as spirits, wine, beer, cider or other fermented, distilled or spirituous liquor over 0.5% alcohol by volume.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Which of these is a licensable activity under the Licensing Act 2003?

    • ASelling soft drinks
    • BThe sale by retail of alcohol
    • CSelling cold sandwiches at lunchtime
    • DRunning a car park
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    Answer: B. The sale by retail of alcohol

    The licensable activities are the sale of alcohol by retail, supply of alcohol in a club, regulated entertainment, and late night refreshment.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Supplying hot food or hot drink to the public between which hours is "late night refreshment"?

    • A9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
    • BMidnight and 6 a.m.
    • C11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
    • D10 p.m. and 4 a.m.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

    Late night refreshment is the supply of hot food or hot drink to the public between 23:00 and 05:00. It is supplied when it is handed to the customer.

12. Question 12 of 25

    Where can an applicant appeal against a licensing authority's decision?

    • ATo the licensing authority's own staff
    • BTo the local police
    • CTo a magistrates' court
    • DTo the Home Office
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    Answer: C. To a magistrates' court

    Appeals go to the magistrates' court, normally within 21 days of being told of the decision.

13. Question 13 of 25

    What is the minimum age to apply for a personal licence?

    • A18
    • B21
    • C25
    • D16
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 18

    An applicant must be 18 or over.

14. Question 14 of 25

    Which qualification do you normally need to apply for a personal licence?

    • AA full driving licence
    • BA first aid at work certificate
    • CAn accredited licensing qualification, such as the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders
    • DA food hygiene certificate
    Show answer

    Answer: C. An accredited licensing qualification, such as the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders

    Applicants must hold an accredited licensing qualification. The Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) is the usual one.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Where should you apply for a personal licence if you live in England or Wales?

    • AAny police station
    • BThe licensing authority for the area where you normally live
    • CThe council where your pub is
    • DThe Home Office
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    Answer: B. The licensing authority for the area where you normally live

    If you are ordinarily resident in a licensing authority's area, you must apply to that authority, even if you work somewhere else.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Where can a person who does not live in England or Wales apply for a personal licence?

    • AOnly a council in London
    • BThey cannot apply
    • CAny licensing authority in England or Wales
    • DOnly the Home Office
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    Answer: C. Any licensing authority in England or Wales

    People who are not ordinarily resident in England or Wales may apply to any licensing authority there.

17. Question 17 of 25

    How long does a personal licence in England and Wales last?

    • A10 years
    • B5 years
    • C1 year
    • DIt has no expiry date and stays valid unless it is surrendered, suspended, revoked or forfeited
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    Answer: D. It has no expiry date and stays valid unless it is surrendered, suspended, revoked or forfeited

    The Deregulation Act 2015 removed the need to renew personal licences, so they no longer expire.

18. Question 18 of 25

    Since 6 April 2017, what must happen to a personal licence application from someone who is not entitled to work in the UK?

    • AIt must be granted for one year
    • BIt must be rejected
    • CIt must be sent to the magistrates' court
    • DIt can be granted if the employer agrees
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    Answer: B. It must be rejected

    The section 182 guidance says an application from someone not entitled to work in the UK must be rejected.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Which applicant cannot be granted a personal licence?

    • ASomeone who has never worked in a pub
    • BSomeone who had a personal licence forfeited in the last 5 years
    • CSomeone who lives in Wales
    • DSomeone aged 19
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Someone who had a personal licence forfeited in the last 5 years

    One condition for grant is that the applicant has not forfeited a personal licence in the previous five years.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What criminal record check do personal licence applicants usually provide?

    • AA basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate
    • BA driving licence check
    • CA credit check
    • DA full medical report
    Show answer

    Answer: A. A basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate

    Applicants must show whether they have relevant or foreign offences, usually with a basic criminal record disclosure from the DBS.

21. Question 21 of 25

    An applicant has an unspent conviction for a relevant offence. Who can object to the application?

    • AThe applicant's employer
    • BThe local fire service
    • CAny neighbour
    • DThe police, on crime prevention grounds
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    Answer: D. The police, on crime prevention grounds

    The police can object on crime prevention grounds. If they do, the applicant is entitled to a hearing.

22. Question 22 of 25

    What can a licensing authority do to a personal licence holder convicted of a relevant offence?

    • ASuspend the licence for up to 6 months, or revoke it
    • BNothing; only courts can act
    • COnly send a warning letter
    • DSuspend it for up to 5 years
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Suspend the licence for up to 6 months, or revoke it

    Licensing authorities have a discretionary power to suspend a personal licence for up to six months or to revoke it.

23. Question 23 of 25

    When a court convicts a personal licence holder of a relevant offence, what can it order?

    • AForfeiture of the licence, or suspension for up to 6 months
    • BA 10-year ban from all pubs
    • CNothing about the licence
    • DAn automatic prison sentence
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Forfeiture of the licence, or suspension for up to 6 months

    Section 129 lets the court order the licence to be forfeited or suspended for up to six months.

24. Question 24 of 25

    A personal licence holder changes their address. What must they do?

    • AApply for a new qualification
    • BNotify the licensing authority that issued the licence
    • CTell the police only
    • DNothing, the licence is not linked to an address
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    Answer: B. Notify the licensing authority that issued the licence

    Holders must notify the licensing authority of changes to their name or address, and of relevant or foreign convictions.

25. Question 25 of 25

    A personal licence holder is at work authorising sales. Who can ask them to produce their licence?

    • AA police officer or an authorised officer of the licensing authority
    • BAny customer
    • COnly a judge
    • DA delivery driver
    Show answer

    Answer: A. A police officer or an authorised officer of the licensing authority

    Under section 135, a constable or authorised officer can require the holder to produce their personal licence. Failing to do so without reasonable excuse is an offence.

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The real test: 28 of 40 (70%)