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This policy provides guidance on applying for a liquor licence or permit for a temporary bar at an event.
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.
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:
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.
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.
An applicant must provide enough information for the DLL to determine whether the temporary bar should be approved. This should include:
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.
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:
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
Further information on licence requirements is available, or the Licensing section can be contacted on 61 8 6551 4888.
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.
Version 1.0Issued 29 August 2024 In effect from 29 August 2024
Policy reviewed and updated to clarify application and streamline documentation.