As with many area of the law licensing activity is often explained in legal jargon.  This glossary of key licensing terms should help you find your way through licensing law.  If you need specific advice contact licensing solicitor Nigel Musgrove.

B.i.i
The British Institute of Innkeeping. Telephone 01276 684449 www.bii.org.uk.

Club Premises Certificate
Authorises a genuine members' club to carry on one or more licensable activities.

Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)
Must be one for premises selling alcohol. DPS must hold a Personal Licence.

Late night refreshment
Supply of hot food and/or hot drinks between 11p.m and 5 a.m.

Licensable activities
Sale by retail of alcohol, supply of alcohol by club to its members, regulated entertainment, and late night refreshment.

Licensing authority
The local authority dealing with licensing applications. For premises licences this is the local authority to whom business rates are paid, and for personal license applications it is the local authority where any new applicant lives.

Personal Licence
Authorises the holder to sell alcohol on premises licensed for that purpose.

Premises Licence
Authorises one of more of the 4 licensable activities to take place on the premises Regulated entertainment: live and recorded music, including singing , dancing, plays, films, indoor sporting events, boxing or wrestling, and any facilities for people to take part in those activities (note TV and radio are excluded-but videos/DVDs are not).

Regulated entertainment
Live and recorded music, including karaoke, dancing, similar entertainment, plays, films, indoor sporting events, boxing or wrestling, and facilities for people who take part in all these activities. Live television or radio is not included, but showing DVDs or other recorded material would be.

Retail sale of alcohol
The sale of alcohol to any person other than to a trader who will be selling it on in their trade.

Responsible authorities
The police, fire authority, planning authority, health and safety at work authority, environmental health authority, trading standards officer, health and safety, health authority and licensing authority.

Review
A challenge to the premises licence by interested parties or responsiible authorities involving a hearing before a licensing authority.

S.I.A
The Securities Industry Authority. Responsible for regulation and registration of door supervisors. telephone 08702 430100 www.the-sia.org.uk.

Temporary event notice
Authorises a new licensing activity for a specific event or a temporary change or extension of an existing activity.  Read the detailed article - How to get for a licence for a one-off event for more details.

Variation
An application to add, remove, change or extend a licensable activity or condition on a permanent basis.