Liquor permits
Access Canberra issues liquor licences and permits in the ACT and performs regulatory functions under the Liquor Act 2010 (the Act).
If you’re selling liquor in the ACT, you may need a liquor licence or permit.
- Liquor permit: authorises sale of liquor at a particular event, like a festival or marketplace.
- Liquor licence: authorises sale of liquor at a particular premises, like a bar or café.
Read about liquor licences.
A list of issued liquor licences and permit locations in the ACT can be viewed on the interactive liquor licences map.
Permit types
There are 2 types of liquor permits:
- Commercial permits for holders to sell liquor for profit at events such as festivals or weekly markets.
- Non-commercial permits for not-for-profit organisations, like social clubs or charities selling liquor during gatherings, or for funding their activities.
Eligibility for commercial permits
Commercial permits are issued based on:
- the nature of the event
- regularity
- frequency
- duration
- location
- event parameters.
An event must occur within a discrete, short timeframe and if for more than one day, should be consecutive days.
Your application should include the name of the event to assist Access Canberra to determine whether you’re applying for a single event or multiple events.
For example, you can use a single event permit if you’re selling liquor at the same market every Sunday. This is because the event is regular, predictable and at the same location.
If you’re planning to sell liquor on consecutive weekends, but for 2 different festivals, you’ll need a separate permit for each event.
Julie is hosting a private event to celebrate the opening of her new cheese shop.
Guests will be able to buy glasses of wine to match with her delicious cheeses.
Because there will be 30 or less registered customers attending, she doesn’t need a liquor licence or permit.
Before you apply
When you apply, you’ll need to have gathered some documentation first.
Close associates and influential people
When you apply for the permit, you need to identify any ‘close associates’ or ‘influential persons’.
Definitions for each are defined in Division 1.3 of the Act.
Police checks for these individuals aren’t required on application, but the Commissioner for Fair Trading may request them to help them make a decision.
Risk assessment management plans
For commercial permits you must complete a Risk Assessment Management Plan (RAMP).
A RAMP details the procedures, practices and arrangements you’ll have in place while selling liquor at the premises, and includes anything prescribed by the Liquor Regulation 2010.
Examples of what a RAMP may contain are:
- what lighting you’ll use in the premises
- what actions noise mitigation measures are in place
- what security measures are in place.
Read our guide to help you complete a risk assessment management plan (PDF 1.4MB).
Apply for a permit
The process for applying for a permit depends on what type of permit you need.
Non-commercial liquor permit
To apply for a non-commercial liquor permit:
- Complete the Liquor permit application form and select ‘Non-commercial’
- Upload photo identification, such as your driver licence
- Upload the premises permission letter from the land custodian
- Pay the fee.
Commercial liquor permit
To apply for a commercial liquor permit:
- Complete the Liquor permit application form and select ‘Commercial’
- Upload photo identification, such as your driver licence
- Upload the premises permission letter from the land custodian
- Pay the fee
- Complete the RAMP form.
Once submitted, Access Canberra will contact to seek further information if required.
Once approved, your liquor permit will be emailed to the contact point nominated in your application.
Using your permit
Permits are only valid for the duration of the event and the hours approved.
Responsible service of alcohol training
If you hold a commercial permit, you and all liquor service and crowd control employees must hold a valid Responsible service of alcohol (RSA) certification.
An ACT RSA certificate is valid for 3 years. Employees can renew once they’ve completed an ACT approved refresher RSA training program.
RSA training is available through Access Canberra approved providers.
View the Registered training organisations approved to conduct responsible service of alcohol training in the ACT (PDF 135KB) (Word 46KB).
A valid interstate RSA certificate is taken to have expired 3 years after the day the person satisfactorily completed the course. They only need to do an ACT approved refresher course when it expires.
Intoxicated people and incident reporting
The Liquor (Intoxication) Guidelines 2017 (No 1) helps identify if a person is intoxicated.
Any incidents on the premises need to be reported within 24 hours by completing the Liquor - Incident Reporting form.
Reasons for incident reporting include:
- refusing entry or service to someone
- altercations such as fights or assaults
- confiscated documents such as fake IDs
- medical assistance rendered to someone
- removing someone from the premises.
If any false documents are confiscated from someone, they need to be given a receipt.
The receipt must include:
- what the document is
- why it was seized
- the date and time it was seized
- the name and address of the premises where it was seized
- if the document is moved off premises, where it’s located.
Personal contact details of the employee or crowd controller are not required and the receipt does not need to be signed. Upload the receipt to the incident form.
Any seized documents must be sent to the Commissioner for Fair Trading within 7 days:
The Commissioner for Fair Trading, Access Canberra, GPO 158, Canberra ACT 2601.
Signage and responsible promotion
As a permit holder you have a responsibility to only promote liquor consumption in a safe and legal manner.
View the Liquor (Responsible Promotion of Liquor) Guidelines 2022 (No 1) or read the Responsible promotion of liquor principles (PDF 140KB).
Your premises needs to be fitted with appropriate signage. You can print and display the following signs:
- Abuse of staff offence sign (PDF 54KB) (Word 72KB)
- Adults only area after midnight sign (PDF 53KB) (Word 74KB)
- Adults only area sign (PDF 53KB) (Word 72KB)
- Breath testing device sign (PDF 54KB) (Word 72KB)
- Offence for under 18 to purchase, possess or consume liquor sign (PDF 57KB) (Word 76KB)
- Offence to consume within 50 metres sign (PDF 52KB) (Word 73KB)
- Offence to sell liquor to under 18 sign (PDF 56KB) (Word 76KB)
Renew your permit
To renew your Non-commercial permit, use the Renew a liquor permit form and pay the fee.
Commercial permits are not renewable.
Amend a liquor permit
Once approved, permits can only be used within the conditions they were approved for.
You need to apply for an amendment to your permit if you are changing, adding or removing influential persons or close associates.
To amend your liquor permit:
- Complete an Application to amend a liquor licence or permit (PDF 343KB) (Word 109KB)
- Submit your application and any supporting documents:
- in person at an Access Canberra Service Centre and pay the fee.
- by email to ACliquor@act.gov.au.