About this course
STARS is training for staff who sell or serve alcohol in Scotland, where the licensing rules differ from the rest of the UK.
It covers the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, the five licensing objectives, age verification and Challenge 25, proxy purchase, irresponsible promotions, and the personal responsibilities of anyone serving alcohol.
What learners cover
- The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and its five objectives
- Who may sell alcohol, and under whose authority
- Age verification, Challenge 25 and acceptable identification
- Proxy purchase, drunkenness and refusing service
- Irresponsible promotions, pricing rules and the consequences of getting it wrong
Course content
The course is delivered in short, bite-size sections that learners can stop and restart at any point.
- Section 1
Scottish licensing
The 2005 Act, licensing boards, premises and personal licences, and the five objectives.
- Section 2
Selling responsibly
Age verification policy, Challenge 25, acceptable identification and refusal procedures.
- Section 3
Offences
Underage and proxy sales, serving drunk customers, penalties for staff and for the business.
- Section 4
Promotions and pricing
Irresponsible promotions, minimum unit pricing and mandatory conditions.
Who it is for
Bar, hotel, restaurant, club and retail staff in Scotland who sell or serve alcohol, and the supervisors who train them.
Entry requirements: No prior knowledge is needed. The course is written in plain English and suitable for all staff.
How it is delivered
Fully online and self-paced
Learners work through the course at their own pace and can pause and resume where they left off.
Any device
Works on desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile, with audio, video and written transcripts throughout.
Interactive throughout
Scenarios, exercises and images keep learners engaged rather than clicking through slides.
Knowledge checks
Short checks at the end of each section so learners can see what has landed before moving on.
Average completion time is around 45 mins, though learners can take as long as they need and return as often as they like.
How it is assessed
Knowledge checks run throughout the course so learners can test understanding as they go. The course ends with a multiple-choice assessment taken online. Learners who do not pass first time can retake it.
Certification
Learners receive a Highfield Online Training digital certificate as soon as they pass the end-of-course assessment. Certificates download straight away and can be saved to a CPD log or staff training record.
Refresher guidance: Most employers refresh this training every 12 months, or sooner if the law, roles or workplace risks change.
How it works for teams
- 1. Choose how many licences you need and pay by card, or request an invoice.
- 2. Add your learners' names and email addresses.
- 3. We set them up on the course platform and they receive their login by email.
- 4. Track who has been set up from your account.