Queensland - The Major Licence Types
Starting a hospitality business in Queensland can be exciting, but there are plenty of boxes to tick before you can open your doors. One of the most important is making sure you have the right liquor licence for your business. With a range of licences available depending on how alcohol will be sold or supplied, it can be difficult to know which one applies to you.
Below, Canford outlines the main types of liquor licences and what each one allows you to do.
Commercial Hotel Licence
If you’re looking to open a hotel, pub or tavern, a Commercial Hotel Licence is likely to be the licence you’ll need. This licence allows businesses to sell alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises.
To qualify, your business must have a commercial kitchen and at least two of the following:
- A dining, restaurant or bistro-style facility
- Self-contained accommodation with at least three rooms available for travellers
- A function room available for hire by the public
The premises must also have seating for more than 60 patrons and adequate male and female toilet facilities.
A Commercial Hotel Licence is also typically the licence type licensees use to operate a liquor store, as there is no dedicated liquor store licence category.
Subsidiary On-Premises Licence
If alcohol is more of an addition to your business rather than the main attraction, a Subsidiary On-Premises Licence could be the right fit.
This licence is designed for businesses where selling alcohol for consumption on the premises is a secondary function. It can apply to a wide range of businesses, including:
- Restaurants and cafes
- Motels
- Function centres
- Theatres
- Indoor sporting centres
- Amusement parks
- Vessels
- Training institutions
For restaurants in particular, meals must be the principal activity of the business. This means meals need to be provided daily, most patrons should consume a meal, most of the premises should be set up for dining, and the kitchen must remain open until one hour before closing.
Bar Licence
If you’re planning a small bar where selling liquor is the main focus of the business, a Bar Licence may be the one for you.
A Bar Licence applies to small licensed premises with a maximum seating capacity of 60 patrons.
Unlike a Subsidiary On-Premises Licence, where alcohol is secondary to another business activity, the primary purpose of a Bar Licence is the sale of liquor for consumption on the premises.
Industrial Canteen Licence
This is particularly relevant to the mining and construction industries.
This licence is designed for remote industrial canteens where the main function of the business is selling liquor to employees and their guests.
It can apply to canteens servicing industries such as:
- Mining
- Road construction
- Rail construction
If your business operates a remote canteen within one of these industries, an Industrial Canteen Licence may be required.
Nightclub Licence
If entertainment is at the heart of your business, you may need a Nightclub Licence.
This licence applies when providing entertainment is the main function of the business. Importantly, the entertainment must be provided by a person who is present at the premises – i.e. a DJ.
Things such as jukeboxes or pool tables aren’t considered entertainment for the purposes of this licence.
If your business is built around live entertainment and nightlife, this is one licence you’ll want to investigate early in your planning process.
Producer / Wholesaler Liquor Licence
If producing or wholesaling alcohol is the main function of your business, a Producer/Wholesaler Licence may be required.
This licence covers businesses that produce and/or sell liquor wholesale on their licensed premises, including businesses that supply alcohol to other liquor licensees.
There are conditions around selling alcohol directly to the general public, so this licence is particularly suited to businesses whose focus is production and wholesale rather than operating a traditional hospitality venue.
Commercial Special Facility Licence
Some businesses don’t fit neatly into the more traditional hospitality categories. A Commercial Special Facility Licence is designed for certain specialised venues, including:
- Casinos
- Airports
- Convention centres
- Certain tourism businesses
The business must also make a significant contribution to Queensland’s tourism development.
This licence doesn’t apply to sporting facilities, which are treated separately under Queensland’s liquor licensing framework.
Liquor licence applications can be subject to a Community Impact Statement (CIS). A CIS is a document that assesses the likely social economic and amenity impacts of a proposed liquor licence application on the surrounding community. In Queensland, a CIS may be required for certain liquor licence and permit applications where the licensing authority considers that the proposal could have a significant impact on the local community.
Other liquor licences
There are also a number of other licences and permits that may apply depending on your business, including Artisan Producer, Community Club, Wine, and One-Off Event licences and permits. These are more specialised and are worth looking into if your business falls outside the more common hospitality categories.
So, which liquor licence do you need?
As you can see, Queensland has a range of liquor licences designed for very different types of businesses. From restaurants, cafes and small bars through to hotels, nightclubs, breweries and specialised venues, choosing the right licence starts with understanding exactly how your business will operate.
Getting your liquor licensing requirements right from the beginning can help you avoid unnecessary delays and make sure your business is operating within Queensland’s liquor laws.
If you’re unsure which licence is right for your business, don’t leave it to guesswork. Reach out to Canford and we can help point you in the right direction.