Liquor
Topics
Extended hotel trading hours - various days in 2012
Extended trading hours have been approved for hotels and post 1 July 2008 registered clubs for certain Sundays from January to March 2012 which coincide with significant special events. More >
Clubs, liquor and gaming machines legislation passed by Parliament
The package of amendments contains liquor law reforms including changes to strengthen controls applying to unlicensed gift sellers, allowing hoteliers to cease liquor sales during approved trading hours, and allowing directions to be given to a licensed caterer More>
New brochure promoting membership to local liquor accords
OLGR has produced a new brochure to help NSW liquor accords market to prospective new member businesses. The printed brochure is available to accords free of charge and is designed to promote the benefits of membership to a range of licensed businesses eg. restaurants, small bars, bottle shops, sporting clubs?not just hotels and clubs. More>
OLGR services over Xmas/New Year
The NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) will have limited operations from Monday 26 December 2011 to Friday 6 January 2012.
Customer service counter hoursOur customer service counter at level 6, 323 Castlereagh St Haymarket, will be open up until 12 noon Friday 23 December. The customer service counter will reopen on Tuesday 3 January initially with reduced hours of 9am to 3pm. On Monday 9 January, the customer service counter will revert to normal hours, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Order your signs and products by 12 DecemberIf you are ordering signs or other products online from OLGR via Shop NSW or via our fax/mail order form, please do so by Monday 12 December in order to ensure your order is received by Friday 23 December.
Function licences and transfers ?early lodgementTo avoid disappointment, applicants for liquor licences for functions and transfers, should plan early lodgement of their documents in light of this planned Xmas/New Year closedown.
“Three strikes and you’re out” legislation passed by Parliament
The Liquor Amendment (3 Strikes) Bill (No 2) 2011 was passed by the NSW Parliament on 9 November 2011. The Bill implements the final shape of the Government’s “Three Strikes and You’re Out” policy for licensed venues. More>
Daylight saving starts Sunday October 2
Daylight saving begins on Sunday 2 October 2010 at 2.00am. This will affect licensees who sell alcohol or operate gaming machines beyond 2.00am.
At 2.00am clocks should be moved forward to 3.00am. Gaming venues in particular should ensure clocks in gaming areas are adjusted to the correct time. Trading is reduced by up to one hour for licensees who trade beyond 2.00am.
To find out more visit about daylight saving in NSW visit Daylight Saving | NSW Government
www.nsw.gov.au/daylight-saving
Small business September 2011 ? free events and ideas to grow your business.
Learn about ideas to help grow your small business, discover new technologies and tools, and find over 300 events (many are free) hosted by 100 organisations across NSW. www.smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov.au
Do you know what your liquor licence conditions?
We’ve made it a whole lot easier for you to find out.
Visit the Government Licensing Service (GLS) website, type in your licence number or licensee name and your premise’s licence conditions will be displayed.
Being familiar with each your liquor licence conditions is a vital step in ensuring your business is complying with NSW liquor laws.
It is important to note that conditions imposed on premises by legislation, including special conditions for violent premises (declared premises), are not recorded on this website. More information on these conditions.
Extension of the liquor licence freeze for parts of Sydney
The Liquor Amendment (Freeze on Certain Liquor Licences) Regulation 2011 commenced on 23 June 2011. The Regulation extends for 12 months the freeze on the grant of applications for certain liquor licences and authorisations in respect of premises in designated freeze precincts located within the City of Sydney local government area. More>
Alcohol restrictions for violent venues
Three-quarters of State's most violent pubs and clubs have recorded reductions in violent incidents since special conditions including lockouts, bans on glass and alcohol restrictions were imposed in December 2010. Improvements were recorded with 31 out of the 42 licensed venues reducing alcohol-related incidents, 16 venues were removed from the list altogether, and for the second time there are no Level 1 venues in the Sydney CBD. Click here for more information and full list of violent venues.
Liquor licence return for calendar year 2009
and later years
Liquor licensees are now only
required to lodge a period a
periodic return every two years. Read more >
Non-trading venues
A reminder to all licensees that if a licensed premises, other than a limited licence, stops trading for more than 6 weeks, the licensee must notify the Casino Liquor and Gaming Control Authority. More >
Appointing managers under corporate licence
A reminder to all clubs and hotels holding a corporate licence that under liquor laws, when appointing an approved manager, an 'appointment of manager notice' must by lodged with the Casino Liquor and Gaming Control Authority to keep them informed. By law this must be lodged within 28 days.
In the case of a registered club that has two or more premises, an approved manager must be appointed at each of those premises where the club's secretary is not present, within two months. Some exceptions apply. More >
Important information for licensed caterers
New conditions apply to licensed caterers which prevent alcohol being sold or supplied on premises which have been refused a liquor licence or extended trading hours in the previous two years. These conditions commenced on 21 April 2011. For more information, click here.
Know when to say when
Find out how you can support a new campaign asking drinkers to think about the negative impact risky drinking can have on others around them.
Extended Hotel and Registered Club Trading Hours for Special Sporting Events occurring in January and February 2011
To coincide with the 2011 Asian Cup (football) being held in Qatar (7 to 29 January 2011), the 2011 Commonwealth Bank Cricket Series involving England and Australia (16 January to 6 February 2011) and the 2011 Australian Open Tennis Final (30 January 2011), extended trading hours have been provided for hotels and registered clubs for certain days in January and February 2011.
View our fact sheet. (pdf 263 kb)
Police use YouTube to issue warning to patrons
NSW Police has used YouTube to send a strong warning about the consequences of alcohol-fuelled behaviour over summer. A two-minute broadcast by Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens tells the story of 'Michael' and how a series of bad decisions while intoxicated changed his life forever. One decision he made was refusing to leave a pub when asked.
"I have made it clear to our officers that when we're called to licensed premises because someone refuses to leave, we will be issuing a $550 penalty notice rather than simply moving people on," Deputy Commissioner Owens said. "Those issued with a penalty notice for 'failing to quit' very rarely re-offend."
NSW Police has also distributed a radio ad, 'Take the hint. Call it a night, without the fight', to stations around NSW to make patrons aware of their individual responsibilities this summer.
Play the 'Take the hint. Call it a night, without the fight' radio advertisement. (mp3 1mb)
New law supports venue dress codes
In response to concerns from industry, the NSW Government has made changes to the Liquor Act 2007. The changes mean that a licensee has a common law right to refuse entry to their venue, or evict people from the venue, which is now recognised by section 77(13) of the Liquor Act. Read On >>
Display of tobacco and smoking products
From 1 July 2010, the display of tobacco and smoking products by all retailers in NSW, including liquor licensed premises is banned.
Visit the NSW Health website for resources and info.
Apply online for ‘one-off’ functions
If applying for a limited licence single function, apply online at www.licence.nsw.gov.au. By applying online, you will receive a better, faster service and a fee discount. See our help guide for more details.
Online Government Licensing Service - Help Guide
Changes to the liquor laws benefit licensees and the community
On 28 October 2009, changes were made to the Liquor Act 2007 to provide benefits to the liquor industry, while also assisting with enforcement of the law and community concerns about neighbourhood disturbance. Read more >
New licence forms are easier to use
Following feedback from industry associations, applicants and their representatives, we have developed ‘fillable’ PDF forms for some of our most common liquor forms. Read more >
Safer Nights Out
A new resource to support safe and enjoyable drinking environments in NSW
'Safer Nights Out – Safety practices and strategies to reduce alcohol related violence' provides licensees, community and regulatory authorities with many strategies to achieve better safety outcomes in licensed premises and surrounding precincts.
Read more >
Practical and real liquor laws
The current liquor laws were introduced on 1 July 2008 - the Liquor Act 2007 and the Liquor Regulation 2008 signalled a comprehensive reform, rewriting laws that had been in place for 25 years.
The laws allow for a variety of hospitality, dining and entertainment choices. The three key objectives of the current laws are to:
- regulate and control the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in a way that is consistent with the expectations, needs and aspirations of the community
- facilitate the balanced development, in the public interest, of the liquor industry through a flexible and practical system of regulation with minimal formality and technicality
- contribute to the responsible development of related industries such as the live music, entertainment, tourism and hospitality industries.
Community expectations are a major driver behind the laws. So people working in the industry, such as licensees, need to:
- minimise harm associated with misuse and abuse of alcohol (including harm arising from violence and other anti-social behaviour)
- encourage responsible attitudes and practices towards the promotion, sale, supply, service and consumption of alcohol
- ensure that the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol contributes to, and does not detract from, the amenity of community life.
Did you know?
You can check the status of a licence application or amendment online using the applications noticeboard
Hot topics
- Handling glassing incidents in your venue
- Can I sell alcohol online?
- What liquor signs do I need?
- Want to open a small bar?
- Want to sell wine at a trade fairs, wine show or producers?market?
- What is a self-exclusion agreement and how does it work?
- Changing the licence name or transferring a liquor licence?
- Frequently asked questions
Information updates
We frequently publish new resources to help you better understand the liquor laws.
For updates, visit latest news.
To keep up to date, join our free liquor eNews service and receive news directly to your email in-box.
Other resources are also available at www.communities.nsw.gov.au 