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Scottish personal licence practice quiz (SCPLH): 25 free questions

Try 25 original questions on the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 before you sit the personal licence exam. Choose an answer, then open the explanation to see the correct one and the law behind it.

Reviewed by Liam Humphreys on · Last updated · Last checked · About 2,917 words · How this guide was made, including our use of AI

Practice questions, not the real exam

These questions are original. They were written from the public exam specification and the legislation, not copied from any awarding body, past paper or app. The real exam is set by an awarding body and will word things differently. The law changes, so check the sources at the end before you rely on an answer. This is not legal advice.

About the SCPLH exam

The SCPLH exam at a glance
DetailWhat the specification says
Who needs itAnyone who wants a personal licence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. The licensing qualification is required to apply to the Licensing Board.
FormatOne externally set multiple-choice paper, 40 questions
Time allowed1 hour (SQA’s unit specification says assessment should take no more than one hour)
Pass mark28 out of 40 (70 per cent)
Who sets itThe qualification follows the Scottish Personal Licence Holder Standard (October 2019). SQA’s SCPLH page now refers to centres approved by Qualifications Scotland, and Highfield also offers it through approved centres.
TopicsSection 2 (responsible operation of licensed premises) and Section 3 (effect of alcohol on customers and your business). Section 1 and the personal licence application topic are not examined.
How the 40 questions are splitOverview 5 per cent (2), key roles 5 per cent (2), licensing and operational responsibilities 37.5 per cent (15), protecting children and young persons 15 per cent (6), control of order 15 per cent (6), training 2.5 per cent (1), associated law 2.5 per cent (1), alcohol and drugs 12.5 per cent (5), social responsibility 5 per cent (2)

How the quiz works

Read each question and decide on A, B, C or D. Then open Show the answer under it. There is no score, so keep your own tally. Aim for at least 18 out of 25 (70 per cent), which is the exam’s pass mark in proportion.

Abbreviations used: ABV means alcohol by volume, ID means identification, NHS means National Health Service, SQA means Scottish Qualifications Authority, and SSI means Scottish Statutory Instrument.

The 25 questions

Question 1

Which of the following is one of the five licensing objectives in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005?

  1. Maximising the licensing authority’s income
  2. Promoting tourism in the Board’s area
  3. Protecting and improving public health
  4. Protecting the reputation of the drinks industry
Show the answer

Answer C. Protecting and improving public health

Section 4(1) lists five objectives, and public health is the fourth. Income, tourism and trade reputation are not objectives.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.4(1)(d).

Question 2

What must every Licensing Board publish before the beginning of each licensing policy period?

  1. A statement of the council’s alcohol sales revenue
  2. A licensing policy statement
  3. A timetable for closing licensed premises
  4. A list of every personal licence holder in the area
Show the answer

Answer B. A licensing policy statement

Boards must publish a licensing policy statement, and it must seek to promote the licensing objectives.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.6(1) and (3)(a).

Question 3

The operating plan for premises where alcohol will be sold for drinking on the premises must include a statement about what?

  1. Whether children or young persons are to be allowed entry and, if so, on what terms
  2. How many personal licence holders the owner employs
  3. The price of the cheapest drink on sale
  4. The name of the brewery that supplies the premises
Show the answer

Answer A. Whether children or young persons are to be allowed entry and, if so, on what terms

The operating plan must say whether children or young persons are admitted and, if so, the ages, times and parts of the premises involved.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.20(4)(e).

Question 4

What does a premises licence authorise?

  1. The holder to open at any hour
  2. The sale of alcohol on the premises
  3. An individual to supervise or authorise sales of alcohol anywhere in Scotland
  4. The sale of alcohol for up to 14 days on any premises
Show the answer

Answer B. The sale of alcohol on the premises

A premises licence authorises the sale of alcohol on the premises. A personal licence authorises an individual to supervise or authorise sales.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.17.

Question 5

Who is the premises manager of licensed premises?

  1. Any employee who is aged 18 or over
  2. The individual specified as such in the premises licence
  3. The person who owns the building
  4. The senior police officer for the area
Show the answer

Answer B. The individual specified as such in the premises licence

The premises manager is the individual for the time being specified in the premises licence as premises manager.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.19(1).

Question 6

Which of these means alcohol must not be sold on the premises under a premises licence?

  1. The premises manager is on a day off
  2. The premises manager is under 25
  3. The premises manager’s personal licence is suspended
  4. The licence holder is a company
Show the answer

Answer C. The premises manager’s personal licence is suspended

Schedule 3 stops alcohol sales while there is no premises manager, or the manager lacks a personal licence, or the licence is suspended, or the qualification is not the appropriate one.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 Sch.3 para 4(1).

Question 7

Every sale of alcohol under a premises licence must be authorised by whom?

  1. The premises licence holder, even if they have no personal licence
  2. A constable
  3. The premises manager or another person holding a personal licence
  4. Any adult member of staff
Show the answer

Answer C. The premises manager or another person holding a personal licence

Paragraph 5 requires each sale to be authorised, generally or specifically, by the premises manager or another personal licence holder.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 Sch.3 para 5.

Question 8

Where are the licensed hours for premises with a premises licence set out?

  1. In a notice displayed by the police
  2. In the operating plan contained in the premises licence
  3. In the personal licence of the premises manager
  4. In the Licensing Board’s annual report
Show the answer

Answer B. In the operating plan contained in the premises licence

Licensed hours are the times specified in the operating plan as those during which alcohol is to be sold.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.62(1)(a).

Question 9

Which Schedule of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 sets out the mandatory conditions for premises licences?

  1. Schedule 6
  2. Schedule 1
  3. Schedule 4
  4. Schedule 3
Show the answer

Answer D. Schedule 3

Every premises licence is subject to the conditions in Schedule 3, except to the extent that the schedule provides otherwise.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.27(1); Sch.3.

Question 10

What is the minimum price per unit for alcohol in Scotland, in force since 30 September 2024?

  1. 80 pence
  2. 65 pence
  3. 35 pence
  4. 50 pence
Show the answer

Answer B. 65 pence

The Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 raised the figure from 50p to 65p from 30 September 2024.

Relies on: Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 (SSI 2024/128).

Question 11

A personal licence holder is convicted of a relevant offence. By when must they notify the Licensing Board?

  1. Within 6 months
  2. Within 24 hours
  3. Within 7 days
  4. No later than one month after the date of the conviction
Show the answer

Answer D. No later than one month after the date of the conviction

The holder must give notice to the issuing Board, and to the Board for the area where they work if different, no later than one month after conviction.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.82(2).

Question 12

In the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, what is a “child” and what is a “young person”?

  1. A child is under 18, and a young person is 18 to 20
  2. A child is under 14, and a young person is 14 to 17
  3. A child is under 12, and a young person is 12 to 15
  4. A child is under 16, and a young person is aged 16 or 17
Show the answer

Answer D. A child is under 16, and a young person is aged 16 or 17

Section 147 defines a child as a person under 16 and a young person as a person aged 16 or 17. Most sale offences cover both groups.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.147(1).

Question 13

What is the maximum penalty on summary conviction for selling alcohol to a child or young person?

  1. A fine not exceeding level 1 only
  2. A fine not exceeding level 5, imprisonment for up to 3 months, or both
  3. Imprisonment for up to 6 months only
  4. A fine not exceeding 100 pounds only
Show the answer

Answer B. A fine not exceeding level 5, imprisonment for up to 3 months, or both

Section 102(5) sets a fine up to level 5, up to 3 months in prison, or both. Section 103 carries the same maximum.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.102(5); s.103(2).

Question 14

The mandatory age verification policy requires steps to establish age when it appears to the seller that the customer may be under what age?

  1. 25 (or such older age as the policy specifies)
  2. 16
  3. 18
  4. 21
Show the answer

Answer A. 25 (or such older age as the policy specifies)

The condition applies where the customer appears to the seller to be less than 25, or any older age the policy sets.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 Sch.3 para 9A(2).

Question 15

Who can authorise a child or young person to attempt a test purchase of alcohol?

  1. The chief constable
  2. The child’s parents
  3. The Local Licensing Forum
  4. The premises licence holder
Show the answer

Answer A. The chief constable

Only the chief constable may authorise a test purchase, and only if satisfied that all reasonable steps have been or will be taken to avoid any risk to the welfare of the child or young person.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.105(2)-(3).

Question 16

A bar worker with authority to sell alcohol serves a customer who is clearly drunk. Which offence is committed?

  1. Unlicensed sale of alcohol
  2. Delivering alcohol to a child
  3. Selling alcohol to a person who is drunk, by a responsible person
  4. Sale of liqueur confectionery to a child
Show the answer

Answer C. Selling alcohol to a person who is drunk, by a responsible person

A responsible person who sells alcohol on relevant premises to a drunk person commits an offence, and a person authorised to sell is a responsible person.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.113(1); s.122(3)(d).

Question 17

Which of the following is a ground on which a premises licence review can be sought?

  1. That one or more of the conditions to which the licence is subject has been breached
  2. That the licence holder lives out of town
  3. That the premises are older than 50 years
  4. That a competitor has opened nearby
Show the answer

Answer A. That one or more of the conditions to which the licence is subject has been breached

The grounds are that the licence holder is not fit and proper, that a condition has been breached, or any other ground relevant to a licensing objective.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.36(3).

Question 18

Who may make an emergency closure order for licensed premises?

  1. Any police officer
  2. The premises licence holder’s insurer
  3. A Licensing Standards Officer
  4. A constable of or above the rank of inspector who reasonably believes closure is necessary immediately in the interests of public safety
Show the answer

Answer D. A constable of or above the rank of inspector who reasonably believes closure is necessary immediately in the interests of public safety

An inspector or above can make an emergency closure order where there is, or is imminently likely to be, disorder, closure is necessary for public safety and it is necessary to act immediately.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.97(2) and (4).

Question 19

A responsible person allows licensed premises to be open in breach of a closure order. What is the maximum penalty on summary conviction?

  1. A fine of up to 20,000 pounds, up to 3 months in prison, or both
  2. A formal warning
  3. A level 1 fine
  4. A level 3 fine only
Show the answer

Answer A. A fine of up to 20,000 pounds, up to 3 months in prison, or both

Allowing premises to be open in breach of a closure order is an offence carrying a fine up to 20,000 pounds, 3 months’ imprisonment, or both.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 s.97(7)-(8).

Question 20

May a person who is not a personal licence holder work in a role selling or serving alcohol on licensed premises without any training?

  1. Yes, if they work for under 10 hours a week
  2. Yes, if they are over 25
  3. No, they must have complied with the prescribed requirements for training of staff
  4. Yes, if a manager supervises them
Show the answer

Answer C. No, they must have complied with the prescribed requirements for training of staff

The training condition applies to any person other than a personal licence holder who works, paid or unpaid, selling or serving alcohol.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 Sch.3 para 6(1)-(2).

Question 21

What does the “ABV” shown on a drink label measure?

  1. The weight of sugar in the drink
  2. The number of units in a single serving
  3. The age of the drink in years
  4. The amount of pure alcohol as a percentage of the total volume of the drink
Show the answer

Answer D. The amount of pure alcohol as a percentage of the total volume of the drink

ABV (alcohol by volume) is the amount of pure alcohol as a percentage of the total volume of liquid in a drink.

Relies on: NHS, Calculating alcohol units (nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/calculating-alcohol-units/).

Question 22

Which formula gives the number of alcohol units in a drink?

  1. Volume in litres divided by ABV
  2. ABV x price in pence, divided by 100
  3. ABV (as a percentage) x volume in millilitres, divided by 1,000
  4. ABV plus volume in millilitres
Show the answer

Answer C. ABV (as a percentage) x volume in millilitres, divided by 1,000

NHS formula: strength (ABV) x volume (ml) / 1,000 = units.

Relies on: NHS, Calculating alcohol units.

Question 23

A licence holder suspects drug dealing is going on in the pub. What does the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 say about someone who knowingly permits it?

  1. It is an offence only if the dealing is in the toilets
  2. Nothing, as the dealers are the only ones responsible
  3. It is an offence only if the police are present
  4. The occupier or person concerned in management commits an offence if they knowingly permit or suffer supply of a controlled drug on the premises
Show the answer

Answer D. The occupier or person concerned in management commits an offence if they knowingly permit or suffer supply of a controlled drug on the premises

Section 8 makes the occupier or a person concerned in the management of premises liable if they knowingly permit or suffer certain drug activities there.

Relies on: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 s.8.

Question 24

A customer asks for a glass of tap water in a bar. What do the mandatory conditions require?

  1. A charge may be made if the glass is branded
  2. Water need only be provided after midnight
  3. Tap water fit for drinking must be provided free of charge on request, where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises
  4. Water need only be provided to drivers
Show the answer

Answer C. Tap water fit for drinking must be provided free of charge on request, where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises

Schedule 3 paragraph 9 requires free tap water on request and other non-alcoholic drinks at a reasonable price.

Relies on: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 Sch.3 para 9(1)-(3).

Question 25

A bar worker finds an unattended bag left in the premises after a crowded evening. What is the correct action?

  1. Open it to look for ID
  2. Put it in the staff room
  3. Throw it in the bin
  4. Follow the premises’ security procedure, which includes not touching or moving it, clearing nearby people and contacting the police
Show the answer

Answer D. Follow the premises’ security procedure, which includes not touching or moving it, clearing nearby people and contacting the police

The standard asks for staff training to look out for left packages or luggage and for practical actions including who to contact.

Relies on: SQA Scottish Personal Licence Holder Standard, topic 3.7.

Want more practice?

A bank of 229 questions in the same style, as a printable PDF with answers and as a self-marking file that works offline, is on sale as the question bank for £19, with every answer explained and its source given.

Sources

Changes to this guide

  • 23 October 2026: Draft written. Questions checked against the sources listed above.

This guide is general information written from the official sources listed above and checked on 23 October 2026. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and Plainfiles is not endorsed by any government body. Rules change, so check the linked official pages for your own situation. Written and designed by Plainfiles with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, then checked against the official legislation and guidance listed in the sources. How we write and check our guides.