Service Update
Applications for Occasional Licences must be lodged with the Licensing Team at least six weeks prior to the event to which these relate. Only if the Board is satisfied that there are exceptional and unforeseen circumstances will an application for an Occasional Licence be accepted less than six weeks prior to the date of the event.
Please note that not applying in time is not considered exceptional and unforeseen circumstances.
If you wish to sell alcohol from premises that are not licensed, you will need to apply for an occasional licence from Fife Licensing Board. An occasional licence will be valid for no more than 14 days and you must apply at least 6 weeks before the date of the event.
Applicants for an occasional licence must be:
- the holder of a premises licence
- the holder of a personal licence; or
- a representative of a voluntary organisation
In respect of voluntary organisations, the Licensing Board may issue in any 12-month period, not more than:
- 4 occasional licences for a period of 4 to 14 days;
- 12 occasional licences for a period of less than four days.
The total number of licences issued must not cover more than 56 days in any 12-month period. These restrictions also apply where the premises licence-holder is a Section 125 Club (formerly Registered Club).
Click here for a summary of the regulations relating to this licence
How to Apply
You can apply by using the button at the bottom of this page.
Fife Licensing Board will:
- send a copy of the application to the Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary. The Chief Constable can serve a notice recommending that the licence be refused on the basis of the crime prevention objective
- send a copy of the application to the Licensing Standards Officers
- give public notice of the application on the council website
If any of these have been received, the Board must consider if there are grounds for refusal. If so, the application will be refused. If not, it must be granted.
Hearings may be held when applications are being considered. If there's no hearing, the applicant must be given the opportunity to comment on any notice, report, representation or objection. The following are the grounds for refusal:
- the premises in the application are excluded premises
- there are no exceptional circumstances for allowing the sale of alcohol over a 24-hour period, or if the application requests the sale of alcohol off the premises before 10 am, after 10 pm, or both
- the granting of the application would not be consistent with one or more of the licensing objectives
- after considering the nature of the activities proposed, the location, character and condition of the premises and the types of people likely to visit the premises, it's decided that the premises are unsuitable for selling alcohol
Notification of a refusal or granting of an application will be given to the applicant, the Chief Constable, the Licensing Standards Officer and any person who gave a notice of objection or representation. A statement of reasons can be requested by any person served with such a notice.
Assumed consent will not apply as it's in the public interest that the Licensing Board must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the Licensing Board within 4 weeks, please contact the Liquor Licensing Team.
Failed Application Redress
Please contact the Liquor Licensing Team in the first instance. Appeals against the refusal of an application must be made to the Sheriff Principal of the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife. Appeals can only be made under one of the following grounds:
- the Licensing Board erred in law
- the decision was based on incorrect material facts
- the Licensing Board acted contrary to natural justice
- the Licensing Board used their discretion in an unreasonable manner
Other Redress
Any person may object to an application by way of
- a notice to the Licensing Board; or
- make representations in support of the application; or
- in relation to any conditions attached to the licence
You can view a list of occasional licence applications lodged with the Fife Licensing Board at the bottom of this page.
Appeals
Appeals against the granting of an application must be made to the Sheriff Principal of the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife. Appeals can only be made under one of the following grounds:
- the Licensing Board erred in law
- the decision was based on incorrect material facts
- the Licensing Board acted contrary to natural justice
- the Licensing Board used their discretion in an unreasonable manner
Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 came into force on 1st May 2018.
The Scottish Government has guidance on this, which can be found at https://www.mygov.scot/minimum-unit-pricing
For further information on how to apply minimum pricing, please contact one of Fife Council’s licensing standards officers on licensing.standards@fife.gov.uk.
