Benefits of liquor accords

Join a liquor accord

Help minimise alcohol and gambling-related harm, receive updates, discuss important issues, and connect with other licensees and government agencies.

Use the interactive map to find information about liquor accords near you.

Liquor accords provide a forum for members and stakeholders to proactively discuss their views, concerns and expectations, while working towards preventing liquor-related issues affecting local businesses and the community.

The benefits of having a liquor accord in your area include:

  • minimising alcohol and drug-related violence, antisocial behaviour and crime in and around licensed premises
  • preventing under-age drinking
  • increasing awareness and practices related to responsible service of alcohol and gambling
  • improving understanding amongst licensees, approved managers, and staff of their legal obligations
  • enhancing community understanding of the role of government agencies and availability of government resources
  • creating safe and enjoyable environments for the benefit of local businesses and the community.

  • [Opening frame—Image of a liquor accord meeting with the words 'Join your local liquor accord' on a banner at the top.]

    [We see Janet, seated inside with a bar behind her.]

    [Janet Persal, chairperson of Hervey Bay Liquor Accord]

    I definitely recommend joining a liquor accord. I've found it a really supportive network of people.

    [Paul Garnham, chairperson of Cairns City Licensee Safety Association]

    Definitely encourage people to join a liquor accord, or if they haven't got a liquor accord, maybe get together and talk about getting one started.

    [Arthur McMahon, president of Townsville Liquor Accord]

    You should join a liquor accord, and also, being a member of a liquor accord, it shows a purpose.

    [Janet]

    I was motivated to join mainly because I wanted to be part of the community input into making our venues a lot safer. And being a member of the liquor accord has been really rewarding. It's given me a chance to network with other venue managers, the community and police and liquor licensing, and all get on the same page of where we want to be.

    [Paul]

    I think it's good for licensees to get together, talk about local issues, come up with good ideas and keep their area safe for everybody to enjoy.

    [Arthur]

    We started with 4 venues. We have grown to 21. Our liquor accord compiled a banning notice, that if we had a few undesirables coming into different venues and they weren't happy, we could get together and put a banning notice out and ban them for, say, 6 months, 5 months, or even 12 months. Not from 1 venue, from the whole 21 venues that are associated with the accord.

    [Paul]

    Training is very important, so we need to make people understand what their responsibilities are, certainly not just in the venue, but certainly in and around. And again, it's another thing we focus on through the liquor accord. So, making sure we've got that safe environment in and around our premises.

    [Janet]

    I think the 3 main achievements for our liquor accord in Harvey Bay is to support each other in creating safe venues for our patrons, as well as creating a good communication channel, so we can communicate really clearly about any issues we're having in the community. And thirdly, yes, just supporting the community and keeping it safe for everybody.

    [Closing frame—Image of a liquor accord meeting with the words 'Join your local liquor accord' on a banner at the top.]

Legal protection for using price or supply controls

Licensees who implement price or supply controls (i.e. minimum sale prices or supply restrictions) on alcoholic drinks may risk reducing competition under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (CCA).

However, exemptions from the competition provisions within the CCA may be available for liquor accords and safe night precinct local boards in certain circumstances.

Liquor accords and SNP local boards may adopt price or supply controls where relevant alcohol-related problems have been identified in their communities and the controls are agreed to be necessary to minimise harm.

Read Guideline 69: Adopting a price control or supply control—legal protection for liquor accords and safe night precinct local boards.

Registering a price or supply control

Initiatives proposing to control price or supply must be registered with the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.

Before applying, you need to consult with stakeholders.

Complete the Registration of price control or supply control form and email it to OLGRstakeholder@justice.qld.gov.au (with relevant supporting documents, if applicable).

Initiatives that mirror a control under the Liquor Act 1992 will be automatically registered.

For example, members agree licensed venues will refuse to supply liquor to anyone who is unduly intoxicated or disorderly. This would be considered a mirror control because section 156(1)(e) of the Liquor Act already prohibits this practice.

The Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming will determine whether to register another type of initiative. The Commissioner needs to be satisfied it is:

  • appropriate for reducing the alcohol-related problem
  • proportionate to the problem.

Supporting documents

You need to provide supporting documents with your application, for example:

  • the meeting minutes, resolution or agreement where members agreed to seek registration of the control
  • a list of all licensees who agreed to the control
  • information and data about the local alcohol-related issues, including from the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Ambulance Service or patron support services
  • evidence of consultation with and support from local licensees and stakeholders
  • a description of issues from local licensees and stakeholders
  • a description of the identified harms the control will address.

Contact us

To check if your initiative is a control that must be registered, contact OLGRstakeholder@justice.qld.gov.au.

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