Liquor Licensing
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 recently took effect.
(1) The purpose of Parts 1 to 3 and the schedules of this Act is, for the benefit of the community as a whole,--
(a) to put in place a new system of control over the sale and supply of alcohol, with the characteristics stated in subsection (2); and
(b) to reform more generally the law relating to the sale, supply, and consumption of alcohol so that its effect and administration help to achieve the object of this Act.
(2) The characteristics of the new system are that--
(a) it is reasonable; and
(b) its administration helps to achieve the object of this Act.(a) to put in place a new system of control over the sale and supply of alcohol, with the characteristics stated in subsection (2); and
The object of this Act is that--
(a) the sale, supply, and consumption of alcohol should be undertaken safely and responsibly; and
(b) the harm caused by the excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol should be minimised.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the harm caused by the excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol
includes--
(a) any crime, damage, death, disease, disorderly behaviour, illness, or injury, directly or indirectly caused, or directly or indirectly contributed to, by the excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol; and
(b) any harm to society generally or the community, directly or indirectly caused, or directly or indirectly contributed to, by any crime, damage, death, disease, disorderly behaviour, illness, or injury of a kind described in paragraph (a).
Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, anyone who wants to sell or supply liquor must have a current alcohol licence. There must also be a manager who holds a Manager’s Certificate on duty at all times.
With increasing community opposition to the sale of liquor in communities, especially in lower socio-economic areas, it is critical to the success of any alcohol licence application that you get it right from the start.
We assist licensees and prospective licensees with licence applications and other licensing issues, including developing and implementing legal strategies, advising on sociological surveys, and obtaining expert industry evidence to ensure that your application has the best possible chance of success.
We represent clients before the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority and on appeals in the High Court.
We also provide advice to hospitality clients on commercial arrangements, employment and health and safety issues, and other relevant regulatory and statutory requirements.
Our work includes:
Applications for Off-Licences, which are required for premises such as bottle stores, grocery stores, and supermarkets.
Applications On-Licences, which are required to sell or supply alcohol for consumption on premises such as taverns, hotels, restaurants, cafés, BYO restaurants, or as a caterer.
Applications for Club Licences, which authorise a club to sell or supply alcohol for consumption on the premises of a club, supply of alcohol to club members and their guests and members of clubs with reciprocal visiting rights.
Applications for Special Licences for specific events such as wine tastings, parties or functions on hired premises where alcohol is being sold and supplied, and events which include alcohol being supplied as part of the ticket price.
Applications for a Manager’s Certificate.
Applications to renew a Manager’s Certificate.