Alcohol Licensing

Information on alcohol licensing and Challenge 25

Last updated: 4th November

Who issues alcohol licences?

Staffordshire County Council does not issue alcohol licences. These are issued by your local District or Borough Council, including:

Our role in licensing

Staffordshire County Council acts as a Responsible Authority under the Licensing Act 2003. We:

  • Advise on licensing conditions
  • Promote the four licensing objectives:
    • Prevention of crime and disorder
    • Public safety
    • Prevention of public nuisance
    • Protection of children from harm
  • Review licences when these objectives are compromised (e.g. underage sales, counterfeit alcohol)

Support and advice

We provide guidance and training materials to help businesses meet their responsibilities:

  • Challenge 25 posters and refusal logs
  • Guidance on acceptable ID and identifying false ID
  • Training booklets and knowledge tests for staff
  • Licensing forms including DPS authorisation and pre-opening checklists

You can find more information relating to alcohol licensing from the Home Office.

Useful documents

Alcohol licensing