Home/Topics/Licensing
General Police Duties

Licensing Practice Questions

Free NPPF Step 2 Licensing questions with full answers, for Sergeant and Inspector candidates.

20+ questions in the full bankType A format

About this topic

Licensing questions test the Licensing Act 2003: premises licences, personal licences, temporary event notices, and offences relating to children and drunkenness.

Know the role of the designated premises supervisor, the notice periods for temporary event notices, and the police powers to close premises.

Key legislation and cases

  • Licensing Act 2003
  • Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (closure powers)

Worked examples

Try each question before opening the answer. Every option is explained, because the exam usually turns on why the near-miss answers are wrong.

Worked question 1 of 2Standard

The manager of a bar is absent when police visit at 23:00. A member of staff is serving alcohol. DC Osei checks the premises licence and notes the designated premises supervisor named on it left the employment three months ago and has not been replaced. Which of the following is correct?

  1. AThe bar is operating lawfully - the premises licence itself authorises alcohol sales and the DPS requirement relates to management accountability rather than the validity of sales
  2. BOperating without a designated premises supervisor means the mandatory conditions of the premises licence are not being met and sales of alcohol in those circumstances are unlicensed
  3. CThe bar may continue to operate until the next licensing review hearing provided it notifies the licensing authority of the change in DPS within 28 days
  4. DThe personal licence holder serving behind the bar takes on the DPS responsibilities automatically where the named DPS has left and no replacement has been appointed
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B

Under the Licensing Act 2003 a mandatory condition of any premises licence authorising alcohol sales is that a designated premises supervisor is specified. The DPS must hold a personal licence. If the DPS leaves and is not replaced the premises is operating without a mandatory condition being met and alcohol sales become unlicensed. There is no automatic transfer of DPS responsibilities to another personal licence holder and no 28-day grace period.

s.19 and s.136 Licensing Act 2003
s.19: it is a mandatory condition of a premises licence that authorises the supply of alcohol that the licence specifies an individual as the premises' designated premises supervisor.
  • A: The DPS requirement is a mandatory condition of the licence itself - not merely a management accountability measure. Without a DPS in post the licence conditions are breached and sales cannot lawfully continue.
  • C: There is no 28-day notification period or grace period during which trading can continue. The breach is immediate on the DPS leaving without a replacement being named.
  • D: DPS responsibilities do not automatically transfer to another personal licence holder. A new DPS must be formally nominated and the licence varied accordingly. A personal licence alone does not confer DPS status.
Worked question 2 of 2Standard

Barker wants to hold a one-off charity fundraiser at a village hall involving the sale of alcohol to 180 people over a single afternoon. The village hall has no premises licence. Barker holds a personal licence. Which of the following correctly states what Barker must do?

  1. ABarker does not need any authorisation - events with fewer than 200 people and a charitable purpose fall within an exemption under the Licensing Act 2003
  2. BBarker may proceed on the basis of his personal licence alone - a personal licence holder may sell alcohol at any premises without additional authorisation provided the sale is supervised
  3. CBarker must apply for a premises licence from the local authority - a temporary event notice is only available for events not involving the sale of alcohol
  4. DBarker must give a temporary event notice to the licensing authority and to the police at least ten working days before the event
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D

A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) under the Licensing Act 2003 authorises licensable activities at premises not covered by a premises licence. A personal licence holder may give up to 50 TENs per year. The notice must be given to the licensing authority and to the police at least 10 working days before the event. There is no charitable exemption, no personal licence exemption, and TENs expressly cover the sale of alcohol.

s.100 and s.102 Licensing Act 2003
s.100: a premises user may give a temporary event notice in respect of premises in order to carry on a licensable activity. s.102: a temporary event notice must be given to the relevant licensing authority and the chief officer of police not later than ten working days before the event.
  • A: There is no charitable exemption and no exemption based on attendee numbers under the Licensing Act 2003. All alcohol sales require authorisation regardless of the nature of the event.
  • B: A personal licence does not on its own authorise alcohol sales at unlicensed premises. It authorises the holder to act as a DPS or to authorise sales under a premises licence - it does not independently authorise sales at any location.
  • C: TENs are specifically designed to cover licensable activities including alcohol sales. They are not limited to events where alcohol is not sold.

Practise every Licensing question

The full bank has 20+ questions on Licensing and over 1,100 across the whole syllabus, each with the statute and an explanation for every option. £29 for 6 months.

Get full accessTry 5 free questions
More General Police Duties topics
Powers of Entry20+ questions in the bankMental Health20+ questions in the bankUse of Force20+ questions in the bankRoad Policing50+ questions in the bankDomestic Violence and Abuse20+ questions in the bankAnti-Social Behaviour20+ questions in the bankHatred and Harassment25+ questions in the bankEquality Act20+ questions in the bankPublic Order45+ questions in the bankUnsatisfactory Performance15+ questions in the bankComplaints and Misconduct20+ questions in the bankTerrorism20+ questions in the bankRIPA 200020+ questions in the bankSporting Events20+ questions in the bank