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Compliance checklists for licensees and permit-holders

As a licensee or permit-holder, you should complete these checklists regularly to ensure you're complying with your legal obligations.

Compliance officers from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) will check against these items when inspecting your licensed venue.

Keep this material in a location that's convenient and easily accessible by the manager on duty to help reduce the inspection time:

  • liquor licence/permit document
  • responsible service of alcohol (RSA) or gambling (RSG) certificates for all relevant staff
  • risk-assessed management plan (RAMP), if applicable
  • management plan to address requirements within Guideline 60: Unacceptable liquor practices and promotions in licensed venues, if applicable
  • re-entry pass system document, if applicable
  • approved manager card and RMLV certificate
  • crowd controller sign on/incident register, if applicable.

This guide provides compliance checklists for liquor and gaming licensees and permit-holders.

Compliance checklist for liquor and gaming licensees and permit-holders

This checklist is for liquor and gaming licensees and permit-holders. Not all questions may be relevant to your licensed venue, you can skip those that don't apply.

Please note: As a licensee or permit-holder you are responsible to ensure you understand and comply with the detailed legislative requirements of the liquor and gaming laws that apply to your venue. This checklist provides a summarised version, it is not an exhaustive list. Refer to the relevant legislation where you need to refresh your knowledge.

  • Liquor Act 1992
  • Liquor Regulation 2002
  • Security Providers Regulation 2008
  • Gaming Machine Regulation 2002
  • Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990
  • Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008

Before printing this checklist, ensure you have opened all the sections you need to be included in your printed document.

  • If applicable, is the approved manager present or reasonably available?

    Section 155AD of the Liquor Act 1992

    Does your licensed area comply with the description on the licence/permit document?
    Is your venue complying with all conditions contained on the licence/permit document?

    Section 226 of the Liquor Act 1992

    Is liquor supplied in line with the authority of the licence? For example: time, quantity, way, purpose?

    Section 146 of the Liquor Act 1992

  • Are all certificates, licences and permits current? For example: RSA, RMLV, Approved Manager, liquor licences/permits?

    Sections 141C, 145A, 155AE of the Liquor Act 1992

    Does exterior signage conspicuously include the licensee's name, premises name, nature of the business conducted and the hours that liquor may be sold?

    Section 143 of the Liquor Act 1992

  • Are adequate policies and procedures in place to ensure patrons are not supplied or able to consume liquor if they are unduly intoxicated, disorderly or a minor?

    Section 156 of the Liquor Act 1992

    Is clean and potable water available for patrons?

    Section 27A of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    Are adequate policies and procedures in place to ensure there are no non-exempt minors on the premises?

    Section 155 of the Liquor Act 1992

    Are there sufficient ID checking processes in place?

  • Do you provide and maintain a safe environment in and around your premises?

    Section 142ZZB of the Liquor Act 1992

    Have you taken all reasonable steps to ensure the use of the premises does not adversely affect the amenity of the neighbouring area?

    Section 142ZZB of the Liquor Act 1992

    Is the premises clean and in good repair?

    Section 154(6) of the Liquor Act 1992

    Are environmental conditions, such as lighting and noise levels, enabling staff to efficiently engage with patrons? For example, can staff easily see and hear patrons to assess whether they could be unduly intoxicated?
    Is firefighting equipment easy to access and free from obstruction?

    Refer to the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 and the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008

    Has firefighting equipment been checked and tagged in the last 6 months?

    Refer to the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 and the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008

    Are emergency exits clearly identified, free from obstruction and easily opened?

    Refer to the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 and the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008

  • Are crowd controllers dressed in a way so they are distinguishable from patrons?

    Section 142AG(b)(iii) of the Liquor Act 1992

    Are the required number of crowd controllers engaged?

    Refer to your licence conditions and section 142AG(1) of the Liquor Act 1992 and section 37C of the Liquor Regulation 2002

    Is the security provider register completed correctly?

    Section 18 of the Security Providers Regulation 2008
    Have all crowd controllers signed on and off?

    Section 18 of the Security Providers Regulation 2008
    Do all crowd controllers have a current training course certificate (RSA or RMLV), and has a copy of the certificate and licence been given to the licensee?

    Section 142AG(1)(b) of the Liquor Act 1992

    Is a copy of the certificate and licence kept on the premises?

    Section 142AG(1)(c) of the Liquor Act 1992

    Are all incidents correctly recorded and signed off? For example, when a person is injured or removed from the premises.

    Section 142AI of the Liquor Act 1992 and section 37E of the Liquor Regulation 2002

  • Are you required to have CCTV at your premises?
    Has the equipment been checked before trading to ensure it is operating effectively, and have the details been recorded including the time, date and name of the person who checked it?

    Section 37DA of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    Is the equipment operational and recording for the period starting at 8pm?

    Section 142AH of the Liquor Act 1992

    If the equipment has malfunctioned, have arrangements been made within 48 hours to have it repaired, and have all details been recorded?

    Section 37DA of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    Has the equipment been checked and certified by a qualified person within the last 6 months?

    Section 37DA of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    Has this certification been recorded in a register?

    Section 37DA of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    Is CCTV in all places as required, including all entry and exit points that provide access for patrons, and the interaction between patrons and staff or crowd controllers at those points?

    Section 37D of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    Are recordings kept for 28 days or for 1 year if an incident occurs?

    Section 37D of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    Is CCTV signage displayed conspicuously?

    Section 142AH of the Liquor Act 1992

    Does the recording display the correct time and date?

    Section 37D of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    Is each recording stored in a secure place at the premises?

    Section 37DB of the Liquor Regulation 2002

  • Have you prevented the advertisement of anything that is, or could be deemed as an unacceptable practice or promotion?

    Section 142ZZC of the Liquor Act 1992

    Have you ensured that any acceptable advertising is not visible or audible to a person who is outside the premises?

    Section 142ZZC of the Liquor Act 1992

    Are all liquor practices or promotions occurring acceptable under the law?

    Section 142ZZ of the Liquor Act 1992 and Liquor Guideline 60

    Is there a RAMP or dedicated management plan for these?

    Liquor Guideline 60

    Are adequate harm minimisation measures implemented?

    Liquor Guideline 60

    Have staff been sufficiently informed of these measures?

    Liquor Guideline 60

    Is responsible service of alcohol (RSA) signage present?
    Have you ensured rapid intoxication drinks are not sold or supplied during a restricted period?

    Section 155AI of the Liquor Act 1992 and section s41B of the Liquor Regulation 2002

  • Is your RAMP available for inspection?

    Section 54 of the Liquor Act 1992
    Is your relevant RAMP signage displayed conspicuously?

    Section 54 of the Liquor Act 1992
    Are staff and crowd controllers aware of the RAMP and do they perform their duties in compliance with it?

    Section 54 of the Liquor Act 1992

  • Do you have gaming machines at your premises?
    Do you have an anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing program in place as required by the Australian Government?

    Implement an anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing program

    Is your premises a club?

    Complete a monthly self assessment checklist—clubs (Form 75B)

    Is your premises a hotel?

    Complete a monthly self assessment checklist—hotels (Form 75A)

Also consider...

  • Read about venue controls and use the best practice toolkit to assess and improve your practices.
  • Learn more about liquor fines and penalties for non-compliance.
  • Read about the requirement to display a liquor licence.
  • Take our compliance inspections for licensed venues refresher and test your knowledge with the quiz.
  • Check if you need to lodge an annual return by 21 July each year.

Subsidiary on-premises (meals) compliance checklist

This checklist is for licensed venues whose principal activity is the provision of meals prepared, and served to be eaten, on the licensed premises.

When completing this checklist, refer to the Liquor Act 1992 and the Liquor Regulation 2002 for more information.

Note: This checklist is not exhaustive. As a licensee you are responsible to ensure you are compliant with the liquor laws.

Before printing this checklist, ensure you have opened all the sections you need to be included in your printed document.

  • For the trading day, did most of the patrons consume a meal on the premises?

    Section 67A(3)(a) of the Liquor Act 1992

    Were the meals eaten by people sitting at a table, or another fixed structure used as a table?
    Was cutlery provided to each person served a meal?
    Were all meals served to patrons of sufficient substance to be ordinarily accepted as a meal?
    In the preparation of each meal, was value added to the food comprising the meal? For example a person does not add value to food if they simply heat a pre-packaged pie or other item before serving it.

    Section 10A of the Liquor Act 1992

    Throughout the trading day, was most of the area of the licensed venue set up with tables and chairs, or another combination of seating and surfaces, ready for patrons to use for consuming meals?

    Section 67A(3)(b) of the Liquor Act 1992

    Throughout the trading day, other than for a period of up to 1 hour before the end of a trading period, was there a kitchen open in the licensed premises?

    67A(3)(c) of the Liquor Act 1992

    Throughout the trading day, were there sufficient staff at the licensed venue, engaged in, or available to engage in, the preparation and service of meals?

    Section 67A(3)(d) of the Liquor Regulation 2002

  • Have all licence conditions documented on the licence for the premises been complied with? Section 226 of the Liquor Act 1992

  • Is a true and up-to-date record being made of the sale and supply of liquor by, or on behalf of, the licensee, including the amount and type of liquor sold and the sale price for each type?

    Section 217(1)(b) of the Liquor Act 1992 and section 27(1)(a) of the Liquor Regulation 2002

    Is a record being kept of every meal consumed at the venue, including the details of the meal, the date and time the meal is ordered, and the sale price of the meal?

    Section 27(1)(b) of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    Are records being kept of wages, or other payments, to workers involved in sale of liquor, and in the preparation, serving or sale of meals?

    Section 27(1)(c) of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    For each financial year, have records been kept of the totals of beverage and food sales, and the costs of the sales, including, for example, purchases and wages?

    Section 27(2) of the Liquor Regulation 2002
    Have accounting records been established that correctly explain the transactions and financial position of the business?

    Section 217(3) of the Liquor Act 1992

    Have all the above records been made in English?
    Are all the above records kept at the licensed premises, or other place approved by the Commissioner, for a period of 6 years?

    Section 217(2)(c) and (4) of the Liquor Act 1992

Also consider...

  • Learn more about liquor fines and penalties for non-compliance.
  • Take our compliance inspections for licensed venues refresher and test your knowledge with the quiz.

Contact: General enquiries 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

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