Food outlets and other venues with existing liquor licences will be able to apply for an occasional liquor licence for up to six months to allow for the sale of packaged alcohol with a takeaway meal.
The occasional liquor licence means that certain restaurants, small bars, taverns and other outlets with existing liquor licences will now be able to sell one bottle of wine and a six-pack of beer, cider or pre-mixed spirits with a takeaway or delivered meal order.
The McGowan Government has also moved to support local wine producers with an amendment to the current liquor restrictions to allow cellar-door sales of up to nine litres of wine (12 bottles) per customer per week in Western Australia.
Sales to interstate and overseas customers or West Australian liquor licence holders are not affected by the current liquor restrictions.
Wholesalers who service the Western Australian liquor industry are unaffected by the liquor restrictions. However, wholesalers that sell to the public must still meet the current liquor restrictions.
Hotels, taverns and other outlets that can currently sell packaged liquor over the counter can continue to do so even if their venue has been restricted from having patrons remain on site.
Licensees must continue to adhere to the social distancing guidelines and only sell packaged alcohol to be taken away.
The adjustments to the liquor restrictions came into effect at 12:30pm today.
A simplified application form for occasional liquor licence, which will be fast tracked on receipt, is available on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ website: https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/racing-gaming-and-liquor/liquor/liqour-applications
The application fee will also be waived.
For further enquiries about obtaining an occasional licence, please call 6551 4904 or email [email protected].
As stated by Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia:
“During these extremely difficult times, small businesses need help being innovative and adapting their business models.
“We are given certain licensed food outlets the opportunity to provide customers with something similar to the dining experience they enjoyed before by allowing packaged alcohol with a takeaway or delivered meal.
“A hotline and dedicated email address has also been set up for any queries that licensees may have, and the application fee has been waived and the whole process fast tracked.
“We have also consulted with wine producers and adjusted the liquor restrictions so they can supply a 12 bottle case of wine per customer per week from the cellar door.
“It’s important to note that WA’s liquor producers do not have restrictions on the amount they can sell to customers interstate, overseas or to wholesalers both in WA and elsewhere.”
