The Office of the Committee for Home Affairs (''The Office'') is responsible for regulating liquor licensing legislation within Guernsey and Herm. The sale and supply of alcohol in Guernsey and Herm is regulated by the Liquor Licensing (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2006 (''The Ordinance'').
It is an offence under the Ordinance for a person to sell intoxicating liquor unless they hold a licence. An application can be made by an individual, a limited liability company, a club or an association.
If you have concerns about a licensed premises, or wish to complain about a licensed premises, please contact the Guernsey Police on 01481 222222.
For all general queries about liquor licensing in Guernsey and Herm, please email the Business Support Unit at homeaffairs@gov.gg .
You can submit your applications either as hard-copy sent to Home Affairs, Sir Charles Frossard House, La Charroterie, St Peter Port, GY1 1FH or email it to homeaffairs@gov.gg or apply online.
Licensing Hours, Fees and Renewal
- Liquor Licensing Hours
- Licensing Fees
- Renewal - The Licensing year runs from 1st June to the 31st May the following year. The Office issues invoices inviting premises to renew their licence in mid-April. It is to be noted that failure to renew the licence or failure to receive the payment in clear funds by 4pm on the last working day of May, will mean that the licence will lapse at 23.59 on the 31st May and premises will not be able to trade as from midnight on 1st June. The renewal fees can be paid by BACS (please note that payment may take up to 3 days to clear), cash or by debit cards.
New Licensed Premises, Change of Designated Official
- All applications for new licensee, new licensed premises, a change of Designated Official, alterations or permanent extension of the licensed area can be presented to the Tuesday Ordinary Court at 9.45am (applicants need to arrive for 9.30am) without the need to employ an advocate but you can employ one should you wish to. This is for all the unopposed, straightforward applications.
- As a result, the applicant will be in charge of contacting the Business Support Unit with the fully filled application with the relevant fees (we can assist you with those). A copy of the application will also need to be sent to the Parish Constables.
- Please note that incomplete submitted application may cause a delay in the Court appearance.
- Before making application, we advise you to contact the Business Support Unit, homeaffairs@gov.gg
- The Court expects any attendees to a Court sitting to be dressed appropriately.
- All applicants should consult the Guidance Notes issued by the Office to assist with the application process and deadlines
- You can apply by submitting the application as hard-copy send to Home Affairs, Sir Charles Frossard House, La Charroterie, St Peter Port, GY1 1FH, email it to homeaffairs@gov.gg or apply online. The Application forms can be found here.
Applications to extend an existing licence to cover additional locations or additional hours - Section 19
- If you are already in charge of a licence and wish to apply to extend your licence to cover an unlicensed location, or to extend your hours, you will need to attend Court for the application to be heard. These applications are made under Section 19 of the Ordinance and you are advised to read this section of the Ordinance. You will not need to be represented by an advocate in these cases but will need to attend court. The court sits every Tuesday morning at 9.30am to hear these applications. To apply, please complete the online form
- The application needs to be accompanied by
- a supporting letter including the following - please note that an email will not be accepted
- Addressed to
- Addressed from
- Date
- A small description of the event, security arrangements if applicable, location, time
- Signature
- a plan showing the location of the bar
- A copy of your application together with the relevant fee will also need to be sent to the Constables of the Parish in which the extension is to be exercised.
- Please note that there is a fee attached to those applications for both the Court and the Constables.
- The Court expects any attendees to a Court sitting to be dressed appropriately.
- You can apply by submitting the application as hard-copy send to Home Affairs, Sir Charles Frossard House, La Charroterie, St Peter Port, GY1 1FH, email it to homeaffairs@gov.gg or apply online.
Applications for "Occasional Licences" to support fundraising activities - Section 20
- If you are raising funds for a society or charitable purpose and wish to sell intoxicating liquor during an event, you can apply for an Occasional Liquor Licence Permit. Applications for these licences are made under Section 20 of the Ordinance and you are advised to read this section of the Ordinance. The person who will be in charge of the licence during this event will need to attend Court.
- It is to note that the profits raised during the event will be used for the purpose of the Society and will not be kept for personal or commercial gain.
- The Court sits every Tuesday morning at 9.30am.
- The Court expects any attendees to a Court sitting to be dressed appropriately.
- The application needs to be accompanied by
- a supporting letter from the charitable organisation or society including the following - please note that an email will not be accepted
- Addressed to
- Addressed from
- Date
- A small description of the event, security arrangements if applicable, location, time
- Signature (please note that the letter should NOT be signed by the applicant)
- a plan showing the location of the bar (outdoor location only)
- You can apply by submitting the application as hard-copy send to Home Affairs, Sir Charles Frossard House, La Charroterie, St Peter Port, GY1 1FH, email it to homeaffairs@gov.gg or apply online.
Court dress code, security arrangements...
- Please follow this link for any information on access to the Court, dress code and how to address the Court
Liquor Licensing exams
- The Office, the Guernsey Police and the Courts expect anybody working in the licensed trade to have a good understanding of liquor licensing legislation.
- Anybody who makes an application to hold a Liquor Licence must have passed the Liquor Licensing examination.
- Therefore, any person wishing to hold a licence should make arrangements to sit the exam prior to making an application.
- The preparation for the examination is to be done by every individual using the presentation, the Liquor Licensing Ordinance 2006 Quick Guide (also available in Latvian, Polish and Portuguese), the Training Manual and the Liquor Licensing Ordinance 2006.
- The Office also recommends that candidates should visit the following websites which will give further information on Responsible Drinking https://www.count14.scot/ and https://alcoholchange.org.uk/
- The Liquor Licensing Exam is as an online exam. Please register and we will send you the link to the exam as soon as possible.
- The cost of the Liquor Licensing Exam is £20. An invoice will be issued following the submission of the exam.
Al Fresco Licences
- Details on how to apply for Al Fresco Licences can be found on this page Should one wish to sell alcohol within their Al Fresco area, application to extend the liquor licence would need to be made. Please contact the Business Support Unit for any further advice.
Application Forms
- Section 19 online Application
- Section 20 Occasional Licence online application
- Application for a new premises, new or change of licensee online application
- Change of Designated Official online application
- Alterations online application
- Extension of a liquor licence on a permanent basis online application
Data Protection
- For details regarding how your personal data is processed, please see the Data Protection page and look at the Fair Processing Notice for the Committee for Home Affairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following set of frequently asked questions and answers has been put together to provide further clarity in relation to the liquor licensing.
Can I sell alcohol to be taken away, off my licensed premises?
- Am I allowed to sell alcohol to takeaway and be consumed outside of my premises?
- Sale of alcohol to be consumed outside premises as a takeaway is not allowed. Sale of alcohol as part of a food takeaway order is allowed as long as the amount of alcohol is reasonable and ancillary to the sale of food. It will not be considered reasonable to provide a case of beer with a food delivery but the sale of one or two bottles of beer or wine will be considered acceptable.
- What do I need to do if I want to only sell alcohol as a takeaway or operate an off-licence?
- An application to the Royal Court for a Category 'I' ('Off-Licence') Licence will be required if you wish to make the sale of alcohol to take away become an integral part of your business. Is there any restriction on the delivery of alcohol as part of a food takeaway order? In addition to the sale of alcohol been ancillary to the food order, it is to be noted that delivery of alcohol should only be handed to a person over the age of 18 and proof of age should be provided.
I want to open a mobile bar / trade as a mobile bar, what do I need to do?
- There is no prevision in the current legalisation to license mobile bars in Guernsey.
- Under the current legislation potential applicant would need to hold a Category A Licence (Standard Licence) in order to extend the licence to cover a mobile bar. If prospective applicants do not hold a Category A Licence, they could approach an already licensed premises which could extend their licence (under Section 19) to cover the mobile bar for events. However, all legal responsibilities would fall to the licensee of that premises and not on the prospective applicant, as it is an extension.
- There is a fee associated with Section 19 extensions fees (fees can be find on this page). Licensees would need to apply, pay and attend Court for each event the extension would be required.
- Alternatively, prospective applicants could apply to hold a Category A Standard Licence for a premises and then extend (under Section 19) on the occasions when the Mobile Bar would be hired; there is nothing in the legislation to prohibit licensing a premises that doesn't actually serve alcohol openly to the public, but applicants would need to satisfy the Court with a robust business case.
- It is to note that the application process is quite in depth and can take up to 2 months to process depending on the circumstances. As part of the application process, applicants would need to notify their neighbours who are able to make representations against your application, and other agencies would be required to submit reports to the Court on the application.
- The Office would also require a police disclosure, a copy of the applicant right to work, confirmation of their ID and the applicant will need to have passed the Liquor Licensing Supervisor Exam. Plans of the premises would also need to be submitted. Further information is available in the General Guidance Notes for Applications made under the Liquor Licensing (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2006
Can I serve free alcohol on my licensed premises?
- On sale -
- Yes, as long as it is inside the licensing hours.
- Off sale -
- Yes, but Off-Licences should notify the Office in advance of the 'tasting' to ensure all appropriate authorisations are in place.
Can I serve free alcohol on my licensed premises outside the licensing hours?
- The Ordinance consider that the licensing hours covers the consumption of alcohol. As a result even if free alcohol is be consumed on your licensed area outside of your licensing hours, this will not be permitted by the Ordinance.
What is the difference between a Licensee, a Designated Official and a Temporary Licence Holder or Temporary Designated Official?
- Licensee
- A licensee is a person, a private member club or a limited company.
- The licensee is appointed by the Royal Court.
- Their name will be on the Liquor Licence Certificate
- THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE LICENSEE PER LICENSED PREMISES
- Designated Official
- A Designated Official is the person is charge of the licence when the licensee is a club or a limited company.
- A Designated Official has under the Ordinance the same responsibilities as a licensee.
- They are also appointed by the Royal Court.
- Their name will be on the Liquor Licence Certificate.
- THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE LICENSEE PER LICENSED PREMISES
- Temporary Licence Holder / Temporary Designated Official
- A Temporary Licence Holder or Temporary Designated Official is a person who is acting during the absence of a licensee or designated official. (ie forannual leave exceeding 7 days)
- A Temporary Designated can also be appointed by the Licensee Company when the Designated Official ceases acting
- They are appointed by the Office of the Committee for Home Affairs for a period of 2 months or extended by the Royal Court
I have renewed my Liquor Licence, but I have not received a new Licence certificate
- No liquor licence certificate get reissued following the renewal.
- A certificate is only reissue if the premises go to Court for an application. As a result, the certificate you currently have on display will be the valid one.
When can I employ an under 18
- On sale -
- You cannot, otherwise than in association with a meal, employ or permit a young person to sell or supply alcohol to another person on any licensed premises.
- Off sale -
- You can employ an under 18 but they cannot make the sale (an over 18 member of staff/supervisor will need to scan the alcohol).
