Victorian Packaged Liquor Law change

NATIONAL

In October 2021, the Victorian Parliament passed changes to the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 impacting the way restaurant and bar licensees operate their premises. From the 15 March 2022, holders of a restaurant and cafe licence are permitted to supply packaged liquor for consumption off licensed premises during ordinary trading hours. This can be done with their current licence and without needing to hold a separate renewable limited or temporary limited licence.

Packaged liquor, however, must only be supplied with takeaway or home-delivered meals prepared on licensed premises, and intended for consumption by an adult. The packaged liquor supplied must not exceed 750 millilitres in the case of wine, or six containers of no more than 375 millilitres each, in the case of beer, cider, or pre-mixed spirits. In time, this will undermine the ability of current packaged liquor retailers to trade profitably.

This decision increases the availability of packaged liquor by approximately 171 percent, from 5,160 packaged liquor outlets to a total of 14,000 packaged liquor outlets.

Restaurants and cafes were permitted to sell takeaway alcohol during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when stay-athome orders were in place. This action was supported by industry to assist distressed businesses; however, it was never intended to be permanent. Once emergency powers were lifted, industry expected the original policy settings would be restored.

This new legislation is an affront to all independent packaged liquor licence holders throughout Victoria. MGA fought hard to not allow the permanent ability of restaurants and bars to sell takeaway alcohol with take away meals with Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Regulation The Hon. Melissa Horne MP, Department of Justice - regrettably without success. For further information or clarification please email george.kovits@mga.asn.au