Liquor licence exemptions

Liquor licence exemptions for certain Queensland businesses are set out in sections 12–14B of the Liquor Act 1992.

Exempt businesses

The following businesses may be exempt from liquor licensing requirements if the sale or supply of alcohol meets the specific conditions listed.

To be exempt, salons must:

  • limit the sale or supply of alcohol to 2 standard drinks per person, per day
  • not sell or allow liquor to be consumed
    • on Christmas Day
    • on Good Friday
    • before 1pm on Anzac Day.

To be exempt, limousines must:

  • limit the sale or supply of alcohol to 2 standard drinks per person, per day
  • not sell or allow alcohol to be consumed
    • between 2am and 10am on any day
    • on Christmas Day
    • on Good Friday
    • before 1pm on Anzac Day.

To be exempt, tour operators must:

  • limit the sale or supply of alcohol to 2 standard drinks per person, per day
  • only sell the alcohol on a tour booked with them
  • not sell or allow alcohol to be consumed
    • between 2am and 10am on any day
    • on Christmas Day
    • on Good Friday
    • before 1pm on Anzac Day
  • not sell or allow alcohol to be consumed within a restricted area (e.g. a public place like a park).

To be exempt, businesses selling small quantities of alcohol in floral arrangements or gift baskets must ensure:

  • the alcohol sale is part of their business
  • they don't sell more than 2L of wine or beer and not more than 1L of spirits
  • the item is delivered as a gift to an adult who is not the purchaser
  • the gift is delivered to a person other than the purchaser of the floral arrangement or gift basket
  • the total value of the alcohol and its container is not more than 75% of the gift's sale price
  • the alcohol was purchased on a retail basis.

To be exempt, B&Bs must:

  • provide accommodation and breakfast to guests
  • conduct the business by a person who lives at the residence
  • accommodate a maximum of 8 guests at once
  • provide accommodation for a maximum continuous period of 14 days per guest.

To be exempt, host farms must:

  • provide accommodation and meals (or food for guests to prepare meals)
  • conduct the business by a person who manages and lives on the farm involved in primary production
  • accommodate a maximum of 6 guests at once
  • provide accommodation for a maximum continuous period of 30 days per guest.

These businesses are exempt if they sell or supply liquor to:

  • an adult resident of a nursing home or retirement village or their guest
  • an adult inpatient of a hospital.

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