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Top tips for Anzac Day 2012

Anzac Day can be challenging for licensees and staff who often deal with extra crowds, many of whom have attended commemorative events, as well as patrons playing two-up. We have updated our Top Tips for Anzac Day to help licensees manage this important commemorative public holiday safely and responsibly. For more information about law relating to the conduct of two up games visit our webpage.

Next stage of clubs, liquor and gaming machine reforms commenced 30 March 2012

Reforms introduced by the Clubs, Liquor and Gaming Machines Legislation Amendment Act 2011 commenced on 30 March 2012, along with supporting regulations. The liquor reforms include: cessation of liquor sales by hotels while still remaining open to the public, and new offences for RSA and RCG training more>

Applying to be an approved manager? We've got great news for you.

You can apply directly online to become an approved manager of a licensed venue via the NSW Government Licensing website.

You no longer need to download, complete, save and send us a PDF of the Application for an Approved Manager Form.

Applying online is easy and will save you time.

What is an Approved Manager and when is one required? Find out more.

Authority name change from 1 March 2012

On 1 March 2012 the name of the Casino Liquor & Gaming Control Authority was changed to the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority. Forms and resources which refer to the Casino, Liquor & Gaming Control Authority remain valid and can continue to be used while updates are made reflecting the Authority's new name.

Liquor licence biennial return 2010-2011

The NSW liquor laws require a licensee to lodge a return containing key information about their liquor licence every second year. The current return is due by 31 March 2012 and is for the 2-year period from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2011.
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 hours

Our 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 December

If 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 lodgement

To 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>

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

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 external site