Alcohol at your event: UK licensing basics for a drinks truck

In short: In England and Wales alcohol can only be sold at an event if the venue has a premises licence or a Temporary Event Notice covers the event. Everyone served must be 18 or over, and many operators use Challenge 25. Check with your local council licensing team before you promise guests a bar.

This is general information, not legal advice. Licensing rules are set by law and applied by your local council, so always confirm with your licensing authority.

The short version

If alcohol is sold at an event in England or Wales, the place needs permission. That usually means one of two things:

• A premises licence already held by the venue, which many pubs, hotels, halls and wedding venues have.
• A Temporary Event Notice (TEN), which covers a one-off event at a place that has no suitable licence.

Giving drinks away is different from selling them, but if tickets, entry fees or contributions cover the drinks, treat it as a sale and ask the council.

Temporary Event Notices

A TEN is a notice given to the local council. As a guide, a standard TEN needs to be given around ten working days before the event, carries a small fee of about £21 and covers fewer than 500 people at any one time. Rules on timing and limits can change, so check the current GOV.UK guidance and your council website.

18 plus and Challenge 25

You must be 18 or over to buy alcohol. Operators normally use Challenge 25: anyone who looks under 25 is asked for photo ID. Sugar Rush Truck applies Challenge 25 to every alcoholic serve.

What this means for a drinks and dessert truck

• Alcohol is optional on our menu and only runs at licensed events.
• Family, school and children’s events are always alcohol free.
• Where you need a TEN, the person organising the event normally gives it, and we help you plan the bar around it.
• An alcohol-free option, such as our mulled punch, is always on the board.

Your quick checklist

1. Ask your venue whether it has a premises licence that covers your date and layout.
2. If not, ask your council about a TEN and the notice period.
3. Confirm the maximum number of guests permitted.
4. Tell your drinks truck early. We will not confirm a bar until the licensing is clear.

See also: How to choose a dessert truck for your event.

Sources and further reading

• GOV.UK, Temporary Event Notices

Sugar Rush Truck is coming soon and is not trading yet. Register your event to hear when bookings open.