table licence
C1/C2 (Technical/Legal/Business)Formal, Legal, Business
Definition
Meaning
A permit or legal authorization to serve alcoholic drinks to customers at tables, typically in a restaurant or pub dining area.
More broadly, it can refer to a licensing framework that restricts alcohol service to seated patrons at tables, distinguishing it from a bar or counter service.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in UK and Commonwealth licensing contexts. It implies a specific restriction: drinks must be ordered from and consumed at a table, not at a bar. The concept is less familiar in US law, where liquor licenses are typically categorized differently (e.g., on-premises vs. off-premises).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: Standard term in licensing law. US: Not a standard legal category; functionally similar to a 'restaurant liquor license' or 'on-premises consumption license.'
Connotations
UK: Connotes a specific, regulated dining environment. US: Would be an unfamiliar technical term; the concept is absorbed into broader license types.
Frequency
High frequency in UK hospitality/business contexts; extremely low to non-existent in general US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [establishment] holds/operates under a table licence.To [serve alcohol], they needed to apply for a table licence.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Crucial for restaurant owners planning to serve wine or beer with meals.
Academic
Discussed in hospitality management or licensing law papers.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of specific contexts like opening a restaurant.
Technical
Defined precisely in legislation, with conditions on hours, seating, and food service.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The restaurant is licensed to serve alcohol at tables.
- They had to license the premises for table service.
American English
- The restaurant is licensed to serve alcohol.
- They had to obtain a license for on-premises consumption.
adjective
British English
- The table-licensed area was separate from the public bar.
- We offer a table-licence service.
American English
- The licensed dining area was separate from the bar.
- We offer full table service.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The pub has a table licence, so you can't get a drink at the bar.
- Before we open, we must secure a table licence to serve wine with our meals.
- The council's stringent conditions for the new table licence require that 70% of revenue comes from food.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: You need a licence for the alcohol on your TABLE.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERMISSION IS A KEY (to unlock service at a table).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'столовый лицензия'. The concept maps to 'лицензия на обслуживание за столиками' or 'ресторанная лицензия на алкоголь'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with a 'bar licence'. Spelling 'licence' (UK noun) vs. 'license' (US noun/verb).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'table licence' MOST commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A table licence restricts alcohol service to patrons who are seated at and ordering from a table, often with a requirement to also serve food. A bar licence typically allows service directly at a bar counter without the need for a meal.
It is not a standard legal term in the US. Americans would refer to the specific type of 'liquor license' or 'alcohol permit' required for a restaurant, which encompasses table service.
In UK English, 'licence' is the noun (e.g., 'apply for a table licence'), and 'license' is the verb (e.g., 'to license premises'). In US English, 'license' is used for both noun and verb.
Yes, if you serve any alcohol for consumption on your premises in a jurisdiction that uses this licensing category, you would need the appropriate licence, which could be a table licence if service is restricted to tables.