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Purpose

This policy provides guidance on applying for a liquor licence or permit for a temporary bar at an event. 

Who does the policy apply to?

This policy applies to anyone seeking to create a temporary bar to supply alcohol as part of a special event. This could include existing licensees who want to create a temporary bar away from their licensed premises, or persons seeking a temporary licence for the purpose of the special event.

Temporary bars will only be approved at special events

This policy was developed by the Director of Liquor Licensing (DLL) in conjunction with key stakeholders.

Under the Liquor Control Act 1988 (LC Act), the DLL has the absolute discretion to grant or refuse an application for a liquor licence or permit, on any ground or for any reason considered to be in the public interest.¹

When determining whether to grant an application for a licence under the LC Act, the DLL must consider whether the grant is in the public interest and the potential for harm to be caused as a result of the use of alcohol.² To mitigate the risk of harm caused as a result of alcohol use, the DLL will only approve a temporary bar at a special event or function³ where the consumption of alcohol is not the primary purpose of the event. The event must be of limited duration and either a one-off event or an infrequent occurrence.

The following are examples of special events which are not predominantly about the consumption of alcohol, where the grant of a temporary bar might be considered:

• cultural/community celebrations, such as cultural festivals, significant commemorations, religious events or street festivals
• food, beverage and tourism festivals, such as a wine, beer, food or agricultural festival which showcases Western Australia
• political and state summits, political events or VIP visits
• arts and entertainment, such as locally, nationally or internationally renowned acts or outdoor cinemas
• business and trade conventions, consumer and trade shows, fairs or markets
• educational and scientific conferences, seminars or clinics
• sports competition, including for amateurs or professionals, spectators and participants
• recreational fundraising activities, including games, quizzes or trivia nights
• private, not for profit events, which are not advertised to the general public and are restricted to invited guests or members.

An application will only be approved if the sale of alcohol is ancillary to the event, and the temporary bar will be created specifically to cater to attendees of the event.

Duration of a temporary bar

Approval for a temporary bar will only be granted for the duration of the event, which will usually be for less than 3 weeks. The DLL may consider approving a temporary bar for more than 3 weeks for events of special cultural and artistic significance. However, the applicant must provide submissions demonstrating that exceptional circumstances apply.

The DLL may require a public interest assessment and for the application to be advertised, as provided the LC Act.⁴

As for any licensed event, the licensee must be responsible for the business conducted under the licence and is responsible for engaging security and crowd controllers to manage patrons in the licensed area; that is, the approved area of the temporary bar.

Information the applicant must provide

An applicant must provide enough information for the DLL to determine whether the temporary bar should be approved. This should include:

• the nature and history of the event
• reasonable trading hours for the nature and location of the event
• an indication of state or local government support
• any event management plans
• evidence that the event will not have an adverse impact on the surrounding community
• demonstration that the supply of liquor is ancillary to the special event
• controls for the responsible service of alcohol
• demonstration that the event will be conducted safely with all required approvals and consents
• the extent of engagement with existing licensees to actively promote events being held in partnership
• if the applicant is not the event organiser, evidence to show that they have been engaged to supply liquor at the event.

If the DLL requires the advertisement of an application,⁵ it will be published on the DLGSC website. Applicants should not provide confidential documents, as they are required to be available for public inspection, on request. Applicants may redact sensitive information.

For large events, where more than 500 people are expected to attend and the event is to be held over more than a week, a public interest assessment is required to demonstrate that the event is in the public interest. The number of persons expected to attend an event is based on how many people can be accommodated in the licensed area at any one time.

An advertised or determined application will be open to submissions or objections.

Changes to an advertised application may require re-advertisement. Please bear this in mind when considering changes, as this could delay processing.

Temporary Bars in Perth CBD and Northbridge

The Perth CBD and Northbridge are defined as the suburbs of Perth, East Perth, West Perth and Northbridge but not including Kings Park.

Due to the high concentration of existing licensed premises in the Perth CBD and Northbridge, in these areas applicants will be required to:

• demonstrate how the proposed event will attract people to those areas and complement existing businesses and hospitality offerings during the event; and
• if instructed by the DLL, notify nearby licensed premises and other businesses in the affected area of the proposed event, detailing its location, duration, hours of operation, size and nature. The affected area will be defined by the DLL and will usually be within a 200 metre radius of where the event is held.

Applying for approval for a temporary bar

Please contact DLGSC Licensing for advice on the most appropriate type of licence or permit for your business idea.

The determination of a licence will consider the applicant’s experience and compliance history. Newcomers to the industry are encouraged to collaborate with existing licensees to actively promote events.

Please note that if a licensee intends to enter into an arrangement with another party to share in the proceeds or profit from an event, the prior approval of the DLL will be required.⁶

Additional guidance

Further information on licence requirements is available, or the Licensing section can be contacted on 61 8 6551 4888.

Disclaimer

The policy 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 Act s33(1)
2. LC Act s38(4)(a)
3. LC Act s3
4. LC Act s67
5. LC Act s67
6. LC Act s104 Profit sharing etc. prohibited without approval.

Approval

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