You need a certificate to authorise the supply of alcohol and regulated entertainment in a qualifying club.
Qualifying clubs
In a qualifying club there is technically no retail sale by retail of alcohol (except to guests) as the member owns part of the alcohol stock and money passing over the bar is merely to preserve equity between members where one may consume more than another.
To constitute a qualifying club you must satisfy the various requirements set out in the Licensing Act 2003
Qualifying club activities are:
- Supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to a member of a club
- Sale of alcohol by retail by or on behalf of a club to a guest of a member for consumption on the premises
- Provision of regulated entertainment by or on behalf of a club for its members and guests.
Eligibility criteria
A qualifying club must satisfy the following conditions:
- A person may not have membership privileges without an interval of at least two days from their membership application or nomination and membership being granted
- The club rules state that those becoming a member without nomination or application can not have membership privileges for at least two days between becoming members and being admitted to the club
- The club is established and conducted in good faith
- The Club has at least 25 members
- Alcohol is only supplied to members on the premises on behalf of or by the club.
Additional conditions relating to the supply of alcohol must be supplied to. These are:
- Alcohol purchased for and supplied by the club is done by members of the club who are over 18 years-old and are elected to do so by the members
- No person at the expense of the club gets any commission, percentage or similar payment regarding the purchase of alcohol by the club
- There are no arrangements for anyone to get a financial benefit from supplying alcohol, apart from any benefit to the club or any person indirectly from the supply giving a gain from running the club.
Registered industrial and provident societies qualify if alcohol is purchased for and supplied by the club under the control of the members.
Relevant miners’ welfare institutions can also be considered.
A relevant institute is one managed by a committee or board that consists of at least two thirds of people appointed or elevated by one or more licensed operators under the Coal Industry Act 1994 and by one or more organisations who represent coal mine employees.
The institute can be managed by the committee or board where the board can not be made up as above, but is made up of at least two thirds of members who were, or are, employed in or around coal mines and also by people who were appointed by the Coal Industry Welfare Organisation, or by a body who had similar functions under the Miners’ Welfare Act 1952. In any case the premises of the institute must be held on a trust as required under the Recreational Charities Act 1958.
Notices