Anzac Day trading hours for licensed premises

Anzac Day (25 April) affects trading hours, alcohol service and the use of gaming machines in Queensland licensed premises.

The restrictions are provided under the Liquor Act 1992 and the Gaming Machine Act 1991.

The day before Anzac Day

On the day before Anzac Day (24 April), the sale and supply of alcohol and gambling must stop at midnight (gambling is allowed until 3am for casinos). Patrons have until 12.30am to finish their drinks.

You don't need to scan identification (ID) unless your licence requires ID scanning during your approved trading hours.

On Anzac Day

From 10am to 1pm on Anzac Day, liquor licensees must be serving a meal in part of the premises ordinarily set aside for dining to be allowed to sell or supply alcohol.

Only RSLs or services clubs (or unlicensed groups in agreements with licensees) are exempt from serving meals.

Note: A meal is food that can be eaten with cutlery while seated—for example, roast beef with vegetables, lasagne, a stir-fry or a curry with rice. It is not light takeaway food like snacks, hot chips, an entree or kid's meal. The meal must be prepared, served and eaten on the premises.

Patrons can buy alcohol from 1 hour before eating their meal and up to 1 hour after finishing their meal.

You don't need special approval or a permit from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) to trade under these conditions.

If you're not serving meals, you can host other activities (such as lawn bowls) between 10am and 1pm without serving alcohol.

Read more about how you can use licensed premises outside trading hours.

Takeaway alcohol is not permitted before 1pm on Anzac Day.

Ordinary trading hours resume after 1pm on Anzac Day.

Anzac Day rules for certain licensees

  • No gambling is permitted in hotels and clubs between midnight (or 3am for casinos) and 1pm on Anzac Day (25 April).

    Patrons can use TAB facilities in hotels or clubs from 12 noon on Anzac Day as long as no alcohol is being sold or supplied.

    After 1pm, ordinary gambling hours apply.

  • From 5am on Anzac Day, RSLs and services clubs can sell and supply alcohol in association with dawn services as part of their ordinary trading hours.

    You don't need to apply for a permit to do this if you're catering for Anzac Day services or commemorations.

    RSLs and services clubs are also exempt from having to provide meals when serving alcohol on Anzac Day.

    You also don't need to keep a sign-on register for people attending Anzac Day functions.

  • Unlicensed groups—including unlicensed RSLs or services clubs—may want to host an Anzac Day commemoration and serve alcohol, for example if there's no suitable licensed RSL or services club premises available.

    Your group can enter into a written agreement with a licensed premises to sell or supply alcohol for your group at the Anzac Day commemoration. Meals don't need to be served if this agreement is in place.

    Note: The agreement must state that the licensed premises is holding the Anzac Day commemoration on your group's behalf. It must also state the start and finish times of the event. A letter from your group, which states the event will be held on the licensed premises and the times, will be sufficient to form an agreement.

    The licensed premises can then apply for an extended trading hours permit to trade between 5am and 1pm.

Approval to trade before 10am

Liquor licensees can apply for an extended trading hours permit to trade anytime from 6am to 10am on Anzac Day.

Note: Licensed RSLs or services clubs—or unlicensed groups who have agreements with licensees—don't need this approval.

This permit will allow you to sell or supply alcohol with a meal, in a part of the premises ordinarily set aside for dining. The meal will need to be prepared, served and eaten on the premises.

Patrons will be able to buy alcohol from 1 hour before eating their meal to 1 hour after finishing their meal.

How to apply

Complete the application for an extended trading hours permit (form 10) and email it to us at OLGRlicensing@justice.qld.gov.au. The application can't be submitted online.

You must lodge your application at least 21 days before Anzac Day (i.e. on or before 4 April).

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