Once you've worked out what type of liquor or wine licence you need, you can find it on the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) website.

ABLIS gives you information about each licence type, including how to apply (with links to application forms), and how to update, transfer or surrender your liquor licence.

Common Queensland liquor licences and permits on ABLIS include:

• commercial hotel licence
• subsidiary on-premises licence
• subsidiary off-premises licence
• commercial other–subsidiary on-premises (meals) licence
• commercial other–bar licence
• industrial canteen licence
• producer/wholesaler licence
• artisan producer licence
• commercial special facility licence
• community club licence
• community other licence
• nightclub licence
• wine producer licence
• wine merchant licence.

Read more about the various types of liquor and wine licences.

Find a list of application fees and other charges, which are current as at 1 July each year.

Find out if you also need to provide a risk assessment management plan (RAMP) with your application.

Applying for extended trading and other conditions

You can apply for some additional approvals at the same time as you apply for a new liquor licence. For example, mark the relevant box on your application for a liquor licence if you want to:

• add a condition to sell craft beer and artisan spirits at a promotional event
• apply to sell wine with takeaway meals.

Lodge an extra form with your new liquor licence application if you want to:

• apply for extended trading hours approval
• apply to cater for functions.

Advertising requirements

Once you've lodged your application, you may be required to advertise your application outside your premises.

Read more about advertising liquor licence applications.

Approval process for new applications

When deciding whether to grant a liquor licence, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) will consider:

• whether you're a 'fit and proper' person to hold a liquor licence—read Guideline 07: Fit and proper or suitable person for more information
• the suitability of the premises
• the community impact
• public objections and submissions (if any).

Processing times for new applications

Provided all information is lodged and there are no issues identified during our assessment, most applications for new liquor licences are finalised in around 3 months. This timeframe may be extended if you also apply for a gaming machine licence.

Reviewing a refused application

If your application is refused, you can lodge a request for review with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Also consider...

• Learn how to change your liquor or wine licence.
• Access our online client portal (if you already hold a liquor licence) to pay your licence fees and manage your licence details.
• Learn more about compliance for liquor licensees.
• Read the Liquor Act 1992 and the Wine Industry Act 1994.

Once you've lodged your liquor licence application, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) may ask you to place signage on each street frontage outside your premises for 28 days. This signage is to notify the local community about your application for a liquor licence.

Advertising is at your expense.

Your application will also be advertised on OLGR's public register.

We consider comments and objections from local government, police or the Minister as part of our assessment process.

Read more about public objections to liquor licence applications.

When you need to advertise

You must advertise (i.e. display signage on your premises) when applying for:

• a liquor licence or a variation of a liquor licence
• ongoing extended trading hours
• an adult entertainment permit
• a detached bottle shop—only if the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming requires you to advertise.

We may waive the requirement to advertise because:

• your premises is in a remote location
• you've already advertised for another purpose that complies with the requirements
• there are other special circumstances.

Format of advertising

We'll let you know the wording, size and timing of the advertisement (i.e. signage).

Read Guideline 09: Advertising (display of notice) for more information.

Also consider...

• Read about the decisions on liquor licence applications.
• Learn more about compliance for liquor licensees.
• Read the Liquor Act 1992.

Certain Queensland liquor licence applications require a community impact statement (CIS), explaining how the licensed premises will minimise its impact on the local community.

The CIS must provide a profile of the community and examine any possible health and social impacts from granting the application.

Refer to Guideline 38: Community impact statement for more information.

Who needs to complete a CIS

A CIS is required for:

• new liquor licence applications (except for community—other licences)
• applications to vary liquor licences
• permanently extending trading hours between 12midnight and 2am.

Minimum CIS requirements

A CIS must contain the following at a minimum:

• nature and type of facilities
• definition and parameters of the local community area
• positive and negative health and social impacts on the local community and potential harm to any group, including (but not limited to)
  • a cost-benefit analysis
  • details of any sensitive facilities within 200m of the site
  • noise impact or change to the amenity of the local area
  • cultural, recreational, employment or tourism benefits
  • safety issues—for example, public disorder, vandalism, public drunkenness
  • impact on, or change to, the character or identity of the local community
• harm mitigation measures
• evidence that approval won't cause harm from having too many venues in 1 area.

Additional CIS requirements

Additional information is required for the following liquor licence applications:

• commercial hotel licence
• nightclub licence
• commercial special facility
• applications to extend trading hours after 2am.

The additional requirements to include are:

• a record of consultation with residents and businesses within 200m of the site
• a survey of the broader local community area
• evidence of consultation with a minimum of 8 key community advisers.

When a CIS isn't required

You can ask the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming to waive the need for a CIS if your:

• application doesn't involve a significant change to the premise's operations
• premise is in a remote location
• CIS's purpose was achieved another way
• application involves other special circumstances.

Restaurants or cafés applying for a commercial—other liquor licence may not need a CIS if the premise:

• is located in a commercial complex
• doesn't trade between midnight and 1am
• doesn't have amplified entertainment
• won't adversely affect the surrounding community.

Submit your waiver request in writing with your liquor licence application.

Also consider...

• Read Guideline 38: Community impact statement for more information.
• Find out how to apply for a liquor licence.
• Learn more about liquor and wine licences and permits.
• Read about compliance for liquor and wine licensees.
• Read the Liquor Act 1992.

A risk-assessed management plan (RAMP) describes the management practices and procedures of a liquor licensed premises.

The purpose of a RAMP is to outline how you'll manage your premises to minimise harm caused by alcohol abuse and misuse. It ensures you trade in accordance with the Liquor Act 1992 and the operation of your premises won't adversely affect the local area.

Your RAMP must be approved by the Queensland Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming.

Applications that require a RAMP

In Queensland, you'll need to lodge a RAMP as part of your application if you're applying for:

• a new liquor licence
• ongoing extended trading hours
• a permanent variation of your liquor licence
• a permanent change to the licensed area
• a licence transfer
• a restricted liquor permit
• car park approval.

Attach it to your application form when you submit it to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR).

Who doesn't need a RAMP

Certain applicants don't need a RAMP because their business is considered low risk. These include:

• florist and gift basket licence applicants
• commercial–other subsidiary on-premises (meals or café) licence applicants, provided their premises
  • won't open past midnight
  • isn't licensed to provide adult entertainment
  • isn't in a restricted area
  • won't adversely impact the surrounding area.

What to include in a RAMP

A RAMP details your management practices and procedures. It must address:

• the principal activity of your business
• the maximum operating hours
• responsible service of alcohol initiatives
• participation in a local liquor accord (if applicable)
• security arrangements (e.g. how many security staff, when they attend and for how long, etc.)
• provision of food (type, when it'll be available, etc.)
• staff training
• strategies for minimising the impact of noise on the surrounding area.

What to do when your RAMP is approved

The Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming must approve your RAMP. Once approved, you'll receive a copy, certified by the Commissioner's delegate. The latest approved version replaces all previous versions.

You'll need to keep it onsite and make it available for inspection by anyone who asks to see it. You must also display signage about your RAMP being available for inspection in an obvious place.

All staff and crowd controllers need to be aware of your RAMP and must comply with it when performing their duties.

Changing a RAMP

You can change your RAMP by lodging your proposed changes with OLGR. The Commissioner will need to approve them.

If you don't advise us of any changes to the way you operate, OLGR may take action, including issuing fines or suspending your licence, or another action.

Notice to change your RAMP

We may issue you a written notice to change your RAMP. The notice will explain:

• the required changes
• the reasons for these changes
• when the amended RAMP must be provided to OLGR.

Circumstances that may require you to change your RAMP include:

• when a condition is imposed on your licence
• to ensure appropriate compliance with the Liquor Act
• to minimise alcohol-related disturbance or public disorder in or near your premises
• because of a tribunal decision.

You must comply with the direction to change your RAMP, otherwise you'll be committing an offence. The maximum penalty is $4,172 (25 penalty units). Penalty amounts are current at 1 July. The amounts increase each year on this date.

The new RAMP takes effect on the date of the notice that your RAMP is approved.

Also consider...

• Read about:
  • patron and staff safety on licensed premises
  • compliance for liquor and wine licensees
  • liquor and wine licences and permits.
• Learn about the venue controls program.

New liquor or gaming licence applications in Queensland can receive comments or objections from the community, local government, police, the Minister or a local member of parliament. When this happens, we must publish the reasons for the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming's decisions on the applications.

Decisions will be published on this page within 28 days of the date of the decision and remain online for 3 months. These decisions relate to both liquor licence and gaming machine licence applications.

Read the decision information notices.

Current liquor licence application decisions

At times, there may be no current decisions.

Also consider...

• Find out how to object to a liquor licence application.
• Read the Liquor Act 1992, Wine Industry Act 1994, and the Gaming Machine Act 1991.