Views sought on 'potential amendments' to Liquor Licensing

Sat, 11 Nov 2023

A public policy consultation has launched seeking feedback on potential amendments to the Liquor Licensing and Public Entertainments Act 2021 and Liquor Licensing and Public Entertainments Regulations 2022.

The proposed changes primarily focus on refining the 'general attendance' requirements for Licensees and Responsible People.

The proposed adjustments aim to address concerns raised by stakeholders and the licensed hospitality industry regarding the practical application of the current provisions.

‘General attendance’ refers to the legal requirements on person(s) responsible for operating a licensed premises (on-licence, off-licence, restaurant, club, etc.). Currently, if a licence holder is avoidably absent or absent for more than 2 hours without an approved alternative manager being in place, they are considered to be in breach of the licensing laws.

Feedback on the original regulatory framework was limited, particularly around general attendance.

In particular, the Department understands that the application of the general attendance requirements in law is making it difficult, especially for smaller businesses.

The consultation is available on the consultation hub, and will run until December 8.

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