A Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) is the single named person on a premises licence who has day-to-day responsibility for the sale of alcohol at those premises. Under the Licensing Act 2003 every premises licence that authorises alcohol sales in England and Wales must name a DPS, and the DPS must hold a personal licence. If there is no DPS, or the DPS has lost their personal licence, no alcohol can lawfully be sold at all. Changing the DPS is a simple application to the council with a £23 fee.
Pubs, restaurants, hotels, off-licences and supermarkets all need one. Yet many new managers are named as DPS without anyone explaining what the role carries. This guide covers the legal position, the practical duties, and the common mistakes that put a premises licence at risk.
What the law says about the DPS
The Licensing Act 2003 attaches a mandatory condition to every premises licence that permits the sale of alcohol. No alcohol can be supplied unless there is a DPS named on the licence who holds a valid personal licence. A second mandatory condition requires every sale to be made or authorised by a personal licence holder. In practice the DPS is the person who gives that authorisation to bar staff, waiting staff and checkout operators.
Two types of premises are exempt. Members’ clubs operating under a club premises certificate do not need a DPS. Community premises such as village halls and church halls can apply to have the DPS requirement removed, so that the management committee takes responsibility instead.
Who can be a DPS?
Anyone who holds a personal licence can be named as DPS, provided they consent in writing. There is no separate DPS qualification required by law. The person should be in day-to-day control of the premises, which is why the DPS is usually the general manager, licensee or owner rather than a director based elsewhere.
The Act does not stop one person being DPS at more than one premises. The licensing authority and the police can object if they think the person cannot supervise both in practice, so multi-site DPS arrangements need to be justified. If you are not yet a personal licence holder, our guide to how to apply for a personal licence explains the qualification, the DBS check and the council application.
What the DPS is actually responsible for
The DPS is the point of contact for the police and the licensing authority, and the person they expect to answer for what happens on the premises. Day to day the role means:
- Authorising sales. Making sure every member of staff who sells alcohol has been authorised to do so, and keeping a written record of who has been authorised and when.
- Upholding the four licensing objectives. Prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm.
- Complying with licence conditions. Opening hours, capacity limits, CCTV, door supervision, noise limits and any conditions added by the council all sit with the DPS to deliver.
- Age verification. Running an age verification policy such as Challenge 25 and training staff on it. We cover the detail in our guide to age verification and Challenge 25.
- Refusals and incidents. Keeping a refusals log and an incident book, and making sure staff use them.
- Staff training. Ensuring staff understand the offences of selling to under-18s and to people who are drunk, the mandatory conditions on promotions, and how to refuse a sale.
Does the DPS have to be on site all the time?
No. The DPS does not need to be present for every sale, and the law does not set minimum hours. What matters is that the DPS is genuinely in charge, has authorised the staff selling in their absence, and has systems in place that work when they are not there. A DPS who is never present, or who has no idea what conditions the licence carries, is the kind of arrangement that leads to a licence review.
How to change the DPS
When a manager leaves, the premises licence holder must apply to the licensing authority to vary the licence to specify a new DPS. The application needs the new DPS’s written consent and a copy of their personal licence, and the fee is £23. You can ask for the change to take immediate effect on receipt of the application, which avoids a gap in which no alcohol can be sold. The council notifies the police, who have 14 days to object in exceptional circumstances.
If the DPS leaves suddenly and nobody else on site holds a personal licence, alcohol sales must stop until a new DPS is named. Many operators keep a second personal licence holder on the team for exactly this reason.
What goes wrong
The failures that come up at licence reviews are rarely dramatic. They are usually a DPS who did not know what the licence conditions were, staff who were never formally authorised, no refusals log, and no evidence of training. Each of those is an easy fix, and each is something the DPS is expected to own.
Get qualified for the DPS role
The BIIAB Level 2 Award for Designated Premises Supervisors covers the legal responsibilities of the role, the four licensing objectives and how to manage your operating schedule. Fully online with tutor support for £95.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DPS the same as the premises licence holder?
Not necessarily. The premises licence holder is often a company or the owner of the business. The DPS is an individual who holds a personal licence and runs the premises day to day. They can be the same person in a small business.
Do I need a DPS qualification?
The law only requires the DPS to hold a personal licence. A Level 2 DPS award is not compulsory, but councils and police look favourably on it, and it fills the gap between passing the personal licence exam and running a licensed premises.
Can a DPS be prosecuted?
Yes. The DPS can be prosecuted for offences such as allowing sales to under-18s or to drunk customers, and can face fines, a criminal record, and loss of their personal licence.
What happens to the premises if the DPS loses their personal licence?
Alcohol sales must stop until a new DPS is named on the premises licence. Apply to vary the licence straight away and ask for immediate effect.
This article was published in September 2026 by National Compliance Training. Regulations change, so always check the latest guidance from GOV.UK for the current position. This article does not constitute legal advice.