The 16 Mandatory Training Topics Every Scottish Licensed-Premises Worker Must Cover
Is staff alcohol training mandatory in Scotland?
Yes. Under schedule 3, paragraph 6 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, anyone who sells alcohol or serves it for consumption on the premises must complete training before working unsupervised. The training has to run for at least two hours and cover 16 prescribed subjects. This applies to both off-sales staff (shops, off-licences, supermarkets) and on-sales staff (bars, restaurants, hotels, clubs). Personal-licence holders are exempt from this particular staff-training duty, since their own licence qualification already covers similar ground.
For the wider legal picture, including licensed hours, premises conditions and offences, see our Scotland alcohol laws guide.
Where the 16 topics come from
The duty to train exists in the Act; the detail of what “training” means sits in a separate regulation. The Licensing (Training of Staff) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/397), regulation 3, sets the standard: training must be of at least 2 hours’ duration and cover each of the 16 matters listed in the Schedule to those Regulations.
Regulation 2 sets out who can deliver it: a personal-licence holder, or someone who holds a qualification approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). There’s no exam prescribed anywhere in the Regulations, either for the trainer to set or the learner to sit. The requirement is to complete training of the right length covering the right subjects, not to pass a test at the end.
The 16 mandatory training topics, explained
These are reproduced verbatim from the Schedule to SSI 2007/397, with a short plain-English note after each one.
- The legal basis of the requirement for the training of staff under paragraph 6 of schedule 3 to the Act.
Why this training exists in the first place, and where the legal duty comes from. - The licensing objectives.
The five objectives that Scottish licensing law is built around: preventing crime and disorder, securing public safety, preventing public nuisance, protecting and improving public health, and protecting children from harm. - The definition of “alcohol” in the Act.
What counts as alcohol for licensing purposes, including strength thresholds and what falls outside the definition. - What constitutes an unlicensed sale.
How a sale can be unlicensed even on licensed premises: outside permitted hours, outside the terms of the operating plan, or by someone not authorised to sell. - The functions of Licensing Standards Officers, including their powers of entry.
What an LSO does, and their right to enter licensed premises to check compliance, including inspecting training records. - The nature of an operating plan and its place in the licensing system.
Every premises licence has an operating plan setting out how the venue will run. Staff should understand it governs what the venue can and can’t do. - The different types of premises licence conditions under section 27 of the Act.
The conditions attached to a licence: mandatory conditions that apply to every licence, and local conditions set by the Licensing Board for that specific premises. - Special provision for clubs under section 125 of the Act.
How members’ clubs are treated differently under the Act compared with standard licensed premises. - Licensed hours under Part 5 of the Act.
The rules on when alcohol can be sold, including standard licensed hours and any extended hours the premises holds. - Offences under the Act, particularly those involving persons under the age of 18.
The specific offences staff can commit, with particular focus on selling to, or allowing consumption by, under-18s. - Proof of age under sections 102 and 108 of the Act and the Sale of Alcohol to Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Regulations 2007.
What counts as valid proof of age, and the legal basis for asking a customer to show it. - Test purchasing of alcohol under section 105(2) of the Act.
How test purchasing operations work, and why every sale should be treated as if it could be one. - Best practice as regards standards of service and refusing service.
Practical skills: serving responsibly, spotting when someone has had enough, and refusing a sale correctly and safely. - Units of alcohol and the relationship between units and the strength of different alcoholic drinks.
How to work out units from ABV and serving size, and how that varies between drinks. - The sensible drinking limits for males and females recommended by the British Medical Association.
The BMA’s guidance on lower-risk drinking levels, so staff understand what “too much” looks like in practical terms. - Good practice in managing conflict situations.
De-escalation and conflict management for the moments a refused sale or a request for ID doesn’t go smoothly.
The Record of Training
Completing the training isn’t the end of the obligation. Under schedule 3, paragraph 6(2A) and (2B) of the Act, a record of each staff member’s training must be kept on the premises, using the form prescribed in SSI 2007/546. A Licensing Standards Officer can ask to see it at any time, so the record needs to be current and accessible, not filed away somewhere off-site.
In practice, this means every venue needs a simple system: who’s been trained, when, and proof they can produce it on request. Our Record of Training guide covers what the record needs to include and how to keep it audit-ready.
How the ServeWises Online course covers all 16 mandatory training topics
The ServeWise Online Scotland course is built around this exact list. It runs online, takes around two hours, and works through the licensing objectives, proof of age and test purchasing, units and sensible drinking limits, refusing service, and conflict management, alongside the legal background staff are required to know. On completion, learners get a compliant Record of Training your venue can keep on file and show to a Licensing Standards Officer if asked.
ServeWise Online has trained more than 55,000 people since 2008, and the Scotland course was built in a founding partnership with Alcohol Focus Scotland. A new starter can complete your Scotland alcohol training the same day they’re hired, well before their first shift behind the counter, the bar or venue.
Frequently asked questions
How many mandatory training topics are there in Scotland?
There are 16, set out in the Schedule to the Licensing (Training of Staff) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/397).
Is there an exam?
No exam is prescribed. The Regulations require at least 2 hours of training covering the 16 subjects; they don’t require a formal test at the end.
Who has to complete this training?
Anyone who sells alcohol or serves it for consumption on the premises, before they work unsupervised. This covers full-time, part-time and casual staff, and applies across on-sales and off-sales venues. Personal-licence holders are exempt from this specific duty.
How long does the training take?
At least 2 hours, as set out in regulation 3 of SSI 2007/397. ServeWise Online’s course is delivered online and takes around two hours.
What is the Record of Training, and do I need to keep it?
It’s the record of each staff member’s completed training, kept on the premises using the form prescribed in SSI 2007/546. The Record of Training must be signed by the person that completed the course and the employee or PLH of the premises to be compliant. A Licensing Standards Officer can request to see it at any time.
This training is a legal requirement in Scotland, not a recommendation. Complete your Scotland alcohol training online in around two hours, and keep your Record of Training ready for inspection.
