Alcohol licence for a salon or barber shop
Hair salons, beauty salons and barber shops increasingly offer customers a glass of wine, prosecco, beer or another alcoholic drink as part of the experience.
Whether an alcohol licence is required depends on exactly how the alcohol is being provided, and whether the arrangement amounts to a retail sale of alcohol under the Licensing Act 2003.
Can a salon give customers free alcohol?
If alcohol is genuinely provided free of charge, with no payment or other consideration attached to it, the position can be different from alcohol that is sold. Be cautious about assuming that describing a drink as "complimentary" automatically takes it outside alcohol licensing.
Where alcohol is included within a paid treatment, package, ticket, membership or other commercial arrangement, the circumstances should be reviewed carefully. If the arrangement amounts to a retail sale of alcohol, the premises needs to be authorised for alcohol sales.
When might a Premises Licence be needed?
A Premises Licence is required where a business carries on the sale by retail of alcohol on an ongoing basis. For a salon or barber shop, this applies if customers can buy alcoholic drinks directly, or if alcohol forms part of a commercial package in a way that amounts to a sale.
If the Premises Licence authorises alcohol sales, a Designated Premises Supervisor must be named on the licence and must hold a Personal Licence, which is obtained through the personal licence course & exam.
What the licence can look like for a salon
Tailored to your business
The application can specify the proposed alcohol hours, whether alcohol is for consumption on the premises, and the steps you will take to promote the licensing objectives.
Staff do not each need a licence
Staff do not each need a Personal Licence simply because they work at licensed premises. The DPS holds the Personal Licence and sales must be properly authorised.
One-off events
A Temporary Event Notice can sometimes cover a launch evening or special event. TENs are subject to statutory limits and are not a substitute for a Premises Licence where alcohol sales are a regular part of the business.
Common licensing issues for salons and barber shops
- Advertising "free prosecco" or similar offers without checking whether the commercial arrangement amounts to a sale
- Including alcohol within a paid treatment, package, membership or event
- Selling bottled drinks for customers to consume on or off the premises
- Running regular evening events without the appropriate authorisation
- Assuming that small quantities of alcohol or infrequent sales are automatically exempt
- Failing to review the premises licence when the business model changes
A licence can match how your salon actually operates
A salon or barber shop does not need to operate like a traditional licensed bar. Where a Premises Licence is appropriate, the operating schedule and proposed conditions can reflect the fact that alcohol is ancillary to the main salon or barbering business and is only provided to genuine customers during specified hours.
Planning ahead? See premises licence fees and how long a premises licence takes.
Not sure whether you need a licence?
Licensing Solutions can review how you plan to provide alcohol and help identify the appropriate licensing route. Where a Premises Licence is required, we can prepare and manage the application and assist with the DPS and Personal Licence requirements.
Premises Licence Application
- Review of your alcohol arrangement
- Premises licence application where needed
- Operating schedule written around a salon
- DPS and personal licence support
Free initial consultation.
Related licensing guides
Premises licence
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