Guideline 32: Community liquor permits and commercial public event permits (approvals for high risk public events)

Liquor Act 1992 - Section 103c

A community liquor permit authorises the sale of liquor:

  • at the event or occasion and
  • at times on the day or days and
  • subject to the conditions

specified in the permit and subject to the Act.

Liquor Act 1992 - Section 101

A commercial public event permit authorises the permittee to sell or supply liquor:

  • at the public event stated in the permit and
  • at the times on the day or days stated in the permit and
  • subject to the conditions stated in the permit

specified in the permit and subject to the Act.

Applicants for community liquor permits will be required to submit an event management plan in a form prescribed by the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming for a 'public event' which is considered to be of 'high risk'.

Applicants for a commercial public event permit will be required to submit an event management plan in a form prescribed by the Commissioner for any 'public event'.

A 'public event' for the purposes of this guideline is defined as an event or occasion that:

  1. is open to the public or casual attendance or
  2. is not restricted by personal invitation of the host of the function or
  3. involves the payment of a fee for admission to the function, or for entertainment or services provided at the function or
  4. is publicly advertised.

A 'high risk' event for the purposes of this guideline is defined as an event or occasion that:

  1. permits the consumption of liquor in an area or areas totalling more than 200 square metres or
  2. has an anticipated attendance throughout any particular day exceeding 2000 persons or
  3. permits the supply of liquor between midnight and 10:00am or
  4. is being undertaken at a venue, which has been the subject of complaints made to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation within the previous five years or
  5. includes a form of entertainment that may cause a noise disturbance in the locality such as a ball, rock concert, dance party or rave party or
  6. involves an applicant who has conducted an event or occasion that has been a cause of concern to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation or
  7. for any other reason is considered to have the potential to cause concern to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.

If the required management plan is not submitted or is not acceptable to the Commissioner, the application for a community liquor permit and or commercial public event permit may be refused.

Liquor Act 1992 - Section 155AD

In relation to a commercial public event permit application made by a corporation licensee/permittee, the licensee must take reasonable steps to ensure than an approved manager:

  1. is present or reasonably available during ordinary trading hours at the premises to which the permit relates and
  2. present during extended trading hours at the premises to which the permit relates.

Liquor Act 1992 - Section 107B & C

In relation to a community liquor permit application for a 'high risk' event, the Commissioner may require the applicant to undertake the licensee's course and the approved training course or either course prior to the permit being granted.

Further, the Commissioner may impose conditions to minimise the harm caused by alcohol abuse and misuse and associated violence and/or to minimise alcohol related disturbances, or public disorder, in a locality. Such conditions may be that all persons involved in the sale and supply of liquor must have a current responsible service of alcohol training certificate.

Re-issued 24 January 2013
(Issued 7 June 1999; re-issued 21 June 2002; re-issued 19 October 2006; re-issued 22 May 2009)

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