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Purpose

This factsheet provides guidance to licensees who wish to sell or supply samples of alcohol for the purpose of tastings.

What is a tasting?

A tasting or sample is a small amount of liquor supplied by a licensee for sampling purposes. It is intended to assist customers to choose a product. The Liquor Control Regulations 1988 (LC Regs) prescribes the following sample quantities:

• wine 50ml
• beer 100ml
• spirits 15ml.¹

Which licences are authorised to provide tastings?

This policy applies to the holders of a producer’s licence or a packaged liquor licence.² The policy also applies to interstate suppliers.³

Holders of a producer’s licence are authorised to sell alcohol⁴ they produce including by way of samples.⁵ Producer’s licence holders may also supply samples of alcohol that they did not produce themselves.⁶ The sale or supply of samples must take place on their licenced premises or at a cellar door outlet operating under an extended trading permit. See the DLL policy Extended trading permits for more information.

Packaged liquor licensees and interstate suppliers are authorised to enter into arrangements with another licensee to supply free alcohol samples on the licenced premises of the other licensee.⁷ A packaged liquor licensee or interstate supplier may also sell packaged alcohol on the licenced premises of another licensee for delivery to the purchaser from their own licensed premises.⁸ These provisions allow licensees and interstate suppliers to attend events such as food and wine shows as exhibitors, where they can conduct free tastings and accept and process orders, with the orders then being filled from the alcohol stored at their own licensed premises.

There may be a requirement for licensees to enter into a profit-sharing agreement if any portion of the charges for tastings are shared. See the profit-sharing factsheet for more information.

Additional guidance

Further information on licence requirements is available, or contact 61 8 6551 4888.

Disclaimer

The factsheet on this subject is general information and is not professional advice or a legal opinion. The information is provided on the understanding that any person reading it must take responsibility for assessing its relevance and accuracy.

Notes

1. LC Regs 1988 r5A
2. A packaged liquor licence means a licence that authorises the sale of packaged liquor, i.e. producer, wholesaler, hotel, tavern, liquor store and some special facility licences
3. Liquor Control Act (LC Act) s109(1)(a)
4. LC Act s55 (1)(a)
5. LC Act s55 (1)(b)
6. LC Act s55 (1)(c)
7. LC Act s59A (2)(a) and s59A(3)(a)
8. LC Act s59A (2)(b) and s59A(3)(b).