Liquor at an event: the licences and permits in three states

The event licences at a glance

New South Wales

Limited licences, pop-ups and the noticeboard

NSW’s Event Starter Guide says the limited licence is the one of seven categories most likely to suit an event. A single function licence lets a not for profit organisation, such as a sports club or community group, sell alcohol for drinking at one event, with no takeaway sales. A not for profit organisation may be eligible to sell alcohol at as many as six fundraising functions a year with no limited licence at all.

The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority can grant a special event licence if satisfied that the event is infrequent or temporary, and genuine and in the public interest; the application has to explain how. A special event open to the public with an expected capacity of 2,000 or more is treated as a large-scale commercial event. For a large-scale commercial event with 2,000 or more attendees, the applicant is required to have completed licensee RSA training, unless Liquor and Gaming NSW exempts the applicant because it considers the training unnecessary for reducing the risk of alcohol-related violence or anti-social behaviour at the event.

Liquor & Gaming NSW’s page sets out three kinds of pop-up; two suit an event (the third, a pop-up promotion, is for NSW licensed producers):

• A pop-up bar, where selling alcohol is the main activity, for drinking on the premises only: no more than 100 people at any time, hours may be approved from 10am to midnight.
• A pop-up event, where alcohol is ancillary to the event, for drinking on the premises only: no more than 300 people at any time, hours may be approved from 8am to midnight.

A pop-up bar can operate over at most 12 weeks, on consecutive days or not. For any pop-up licence, in special circumstances the Authority may approve trading as late as 2am. Under the single function and special event licences, trading is not permitted between 3am and 6am.

Once lodged, applications for all three go on the Liquor and Gaming Application Noticeboard for at least 14 days; for a special event, the community, NSW Police and the local council can comment. A single function also needs at least 14 days’ notice to local police.

Victoria

Temporary limited and major event licences

A temporary limited licence covers up to three events on one application, or a short run of up to six weeks (eight for a theatre production), and up to six events per location in a calendar year. Each location needs its own licence, even under the same trading name. The application fee as listed on 8 October 2026:

• $259.10 for an applicant that already holds a permanent licence or BYO permit;
• $103.60 for an applicant without one;
• no fee for an entity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission that holds no liquor licence or BYO permit.

A major event licence is needed if 5,000 or more people are expected, the event needs close coordination with Victoria Police, the council, public transport or emergency services, or it is a street festival that closes or partly closes busy or main roads; Liquor Control Victoria also writes “more than 5,000”. Its fee, as listed on 8 October 2026, is $3,454.00 for an event with one alcohol supplier, or $518.10 per supplier where there is more than one, and each supplier lodges its own application. A decision can take about 9 to 11 weeks.

Queensland

Community liquor permits and public event permits

For drinking at a public-place event, such as an outdoor wedding or festival, Business Queensland says to check first with the council about a licence or permit. A community liquor permit lets its holder sell or supply liquor or wine at a community event. Business Queensland says one can be applied for by a not-for-profit organisation, a non-proprietary club, an incorporated association, a theatre group, or a licensed club that wants temporary approval to sell alcohol at a one-off event, and that it does not apply to other licensed premises or to commercial public event permits. A community liquor permit then comes with conditions, including the days and times liquor can be sold or supplied, and two endorsements may be needed before applying:

1. For an event in a public place, such as a park or council venue, the endorsement of the local council or the state landowner.
2. For serving between midnight and 10am, the endorsement of the Queensland Police Service.

Each application is risk assessed as low or high risk. Low-risk events are generally approved, and low-risk applications are usually processed within two weeks; high-risk events are often approved with further conditions. The permit page recommends an event management plan for a high-risk event; Guideline 32 requires one, in a form the Commissioner prescribes, from community liquor permit applicants for a high-risk public event.

A business with an eligible liquor licence catering at public events away from its premises, such as festivals or trade shows, needs an endorsement to cater off-site and a commercial public event permit. The guideline requires one from commercial public event permit applicants for any public event.

The serving rules that travel with the licence

In NSW, the licensee and everyone serving liquor under a single function or special event licence must have completed an approved RSA course, volunteers and security officers with crowd control duties included. On a special event licence: “All staff must carry a valid NSW RSA photo competency card, digital licence, or interim certificate while working.” A single function also needs free drinking water and food available.

Queensland’s event guidelines say that in most cases free drinking water is a legal requirement when alcohol is sold.