The specific licences you need to run a newsagent will depend on whether or not you choose to sell certain regulated products, such as alcohol and tobacco.
In this post we will list the various licences you may need as a newsagent.
When Does A Newsagent Need a Licence?
Most, if not all, newsagents will need to register for licences to undertake a number of activities and sell different types of products. You will need licences if you wish to:
- Sell food – registering will give you a licence to store, sell, or prepare food on your premises, as long as you meet all relevant food safety laws.
- Sell alcohol
- Sell tobacco products
- Sell fireworks
- Sell lottery tickets
- Play music
- Employ young people to deliver newspapers
We’ll explore some of these licences in more detail below.
What Licence Does a Newsagent Need to Sell Alcohol?
In the UK, there are two types of alcohol licence: Premises licences, and personal licences. If you want to sell alcohol in your newsagent, you will need both types of licence.
- A premises licence will give you the legal right to sell alcohol from a specific location – in this case, your newsagent.
- A personal allowance will give you the legal right to sell alcohol, through acting as your newsagent’s Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).
If you sell alcohol without the relevant licences, you will face a personal fine of up to £1,000. You may also get a criminal conviction, which could lead to up to six months’ imprisonment.
As part of your licence to sell alcohol, you will be required to implement and enforce age verification policies. Once again, you will face fines and legal sanctions if you fail to do so.
What Licence Does a Newsagent Need to Sell Tobacco?
If you want to sell cigarettes and other tobacco products in your newsagent, you will need an economic operator ID, along with a separate facility ID for your newsagent. If you run more than one newsagent, you will need a separate facility ID for each store.
The Government intends to introduce a new vape licensing scheme by the end of 2026. Under this plan, Trading Standards could issue instant fines of up to £2,500 for any stores caught storing or selling vapes without an appropriate licence.
The vape licensing laws are likely to be similar to the alcohol licensing laws, meaning you will need both a personal and a premises licence if you want to sell vapes at your newsagent.
What Licence Does a Newsagent Need to Sell Fireworks?
You must notify your local fire authority, along with the relevant trading standards departments, if you wish to sell fireworks in your newsagent.
However, you only need a licence if you intend to sell fireworks all year round. You do not need a licence if you are selling fireworks during the Bonfire Night, New Year, Chinese New Year, or Diwali periods – though you will need a licence to store fireworks during these times.
Learn more about the UK’s firework licensing laws.
What Licence Does a Newsagent Need to Sell Lottery Tickets?
If you want to sell lottery tickets in your newsagent, along with other gambling products such as scratchcards, you will need a lottery retail licence from the Gambling Commission.
You can learn more about the current lottery licensing laws.
Specialist Insurance For Newsagents
Selling alcohol, tobacco, vapes, and fireworks from your newsagents may expose your business to additional risks. Thieves may be more likely to target your store for theft, and some products carry a strong fire risk.
You need to make sure your business insurance will cover you for the risks associated with storing and selling these regulated items.
James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your business. We can help you ensure that your specialist newsagent insurance meets all of your cover needs at the right price.