To support the hospitality industry, the Victorian Commission for Liquor Licencing and Gambling Regulation (VCGLR) has announced a special temporary limited licence free of charge available to current liquor licensees that may be granted within 72 hours from application lodgement.
To be eligible for this licence, licensees must hold either:
- a restaurant and café licence; or
- an on-premises liquor licence with no conditions on the licence that already permit the supply of liquor for consumption off the licensed premises.
Eligible licensees will be able to apply for this special temporary limited licence to supply a limited quantity of liquor to customers.
Pubs, cafés and restaurants
For restaurant and café licensees or on-premises licensees that serve food, customers must purchase liquor either when ordering a meal for delivery or when picking up a meal to take away. Liquor cannot be supplied if a meal is not also being purchased in the same transaction.
The quantity of liquor that can be supplied to customers is limited to:
- one bottle of wine; or
- one six pack of beer, cider or pre-mixed spirits.
Bars, breweries, wineries and clubs
For on-premises licensees that do not serve food, licensees may operate a delivery service and allow customers to purchase take-away liquor.
The quantity of liquor that can be supplied to customers is limited to:
- two bottles of wine; or
- two six packs of beer, cider or pre-mixed spirits; or
- one bottle of wine and one six pack of beer, cider or pre-mixed spirits.
Delivery
The VCGLR require that delivery drivers sight identification of persons receiving orders that include liquor to ensure they are not delivering to someone under the age of 18. There is no requirement to physically handle the identification produced.
Licensees will also be responsible for verifying the age of their customers for liquor supplied from their licensed premises, including in the case of delivery.
Timing
Apply now. Our Tourism, Leisure & Hospitality team will assist you in preparing your application so that there is no further delay.
All special temporary liquor licences will only be in force until the earlier of:
- 15 September 2020; or
- the date the Declared State of Emergency Victoria in response to COVID-19 ceases to be in force.
The VCGLR states that licences may be granted within 72 hours (or 3 business days) from application submission.
Temporary or major event licences
In addition, the VCGLR announced that it will be supporting businesses that have had events cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19.
If a licensee was granted a temporary or major event licence and the event has been postponed due to COVID-19, the VCGLR may be able to move the licence to a new date free of charge. If the VCGLR has received the application but has not assessed it yet and the licensee advises the VCGLR that they are cancelling the event, the application fee will be refunded.
The VCGLR states that it is still considering whether it will refund application fees for licences that have already been granted for cancelled events.
Waiver of Victorian Licence
The VCGLR will waive all 2020 licence fees for affected venues and small businesses.
Please contact our Tourism, Leisure & Hospitality team if you have any concerns regarding your recent closure or ability to trade.
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