Chances are, if you're selling alcohol at your event, you might be thinking, "Do I need a liquor licence?". The answer is absolutely yes! However, hosting a private event with friends is much different from a huge community-wide party, so make sure your specific type of event abides by all the local laws. Here are some clear guidelines to help you serve wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages the right way!

Do you need a liquor licence to serve alcohol?

If you're selling alcohol (which is a solid way to make money at your event!), then yes, you will need a licence. Or, if you're selling tickets and serving alcohol, like at a paint and sip, a liquor licence is required. It's super important to determine how to obtain the proper licensing while you’re planning your event, so you can go into your event day with confidence.

The first thing to know is that liquor licences vary by region. Some laws, such as the legal drinking age, are the same across Australia, while other laws, such as where you can drink, are different in each state and territory. This means, while we may not have one perfect answer for you, we can give you directions on how to secure a liquor licence in your region.

While each territory is different, as one example, New South Wales’ website states that a special event licence is required for selling alcohol when the event is…

• Infrequent or temporary
• Genuine and in the public interest
• At a venue that doesn't already hold a liquor licence, as long as selling and supplying alcohol is not the sole reason for holding the event
• Expected attendance must be less than 2,000 people

When you don't need a liquor licence for an event

On the other hand, in some states, a liquor licence is not needed at special events where you are making alcohol available, but there is no payment or purchase required, and no donations of money are accepted (e.g., for alcohol, for entry, for admission, or for any other product or service at the event). This can include serving alcohol at a private event like a wedding reception where guests can enjoy some booze, but you don't require payment or purchase and don't accept donations.

However, please note, other states may have their own specific definition of what’s considered a “private event”. This means some restrictions may still apply depending on your area, so always check with your local and state laws.

When in doubt, contact your area's liquor board through their government website and explain what your needs are, so you can determine what documentation to file to receive your appropriate liquor permit. Do you know other event organisers in your community? Ask them how they got their temporary permit for serving alcohol in your specific region.

Not sure where to begin? Here is a website for each territory to get you started in your research:

• New South Wales  
• Queensland 
• Victoria
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Northern Territory
• Tasmania 

State variations in liquor licences

Keep in mind, there are subtle differences between territories. For example, there may be different policies regarding for profit events versus those hosted by nonprofit organisations. Nonprofits in New South Wales may be eligible to sell alcohol at up to six fundraising events a year without needing a limited licence. Additionally, if you are hosting your event somewhere that already has a liquor licence and using their staff, you will not need a separate licence.

However, other laws are consistent across all territories. For instance, you must be 18 or older to purchase alcohol or to drink it in a licensed venue, and it’s illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age or to someone who is already drunk. There may also be restrictions on areas where you can and can’t drink alcohol. Research the liquor licence regulations of your state or territory for more information about how to properly handle serving alcohol at your event.

How much do liquor licences cost?

This varies heavily by the region you’re in. Usually, this will range within a few hundred dollars. For example, New South Wales’ licence costs $104 for their single function licence, or their special event licence is $195. Luckily, because you're only needing a temporary permit as an event, it won't cost nearly as much for you as it would for a restaurant purchasing an annual licence for their alcohol served.

Alternative ways to serve alcohol without getting a permit

Wanting to serve alcohol at your event, but wanting to skip securing a liquor licence? When selecting your event venue, prioritise options that offer bar services. If they let you run a cash bar, attendees can purchase alcohol straight from the venue, saving you from having to purchase drinks at all as the organiser.

If the venue doesn’t have a bar service, consider hiring a professional caterer! They’ve already obtained a licence to serve food and drink, and your venue is their “licensed premises”. You’ll need to check with them of any requirements like a percentage of food sales required in proportion to drink sales.

The role of event insurance

Now that we've got that sorted, event insurance is the next important piece to the puzzle. Lucky for you, once you've got a liquor licence, this is going to seem easy! For any event, but especially those with alcohol, it's wise to have event insurance. Even venues that already have a liquor licence will probably ask you to get additional event insurance. This is easy to do. Call up your regular insurance provider and they will give you a quote. You can also do this online. 

There are a few different types of insurance – public liability, special event, and professional indemnity – so be sure to ask what’s suitable for your event. Depending on the frequency of your event, you may only need insurance for a one-time event or you may consider an annual policy if you host multiple events throughout the year.

Cheers to hosting your next event with confidence!

That's it! You're all set to secure a liquor licence (and your event insurance!) for your upcoming events. As you build your event page, keep in mind to clarify in your event description if you're serving alcohol and have any age restrictions on who can attend. With TicketLeap's full suite of features, you can include custom questions in the purchase process to learn more about your attendees (e.g., how many are of drinking age) and even embed a waiver at checkout for them to sign too. Now, go forth and toast your newfound knowledge with a signature cocktail at your event!