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If you are not sure what something means on the application form, check this list or contact us.
If your application is missing information or is incomplete, it may:
- delay your decision
- lead to us refusing your application – you will lose your application fee.
There are serious penalties for providing incorrect information.
Details you need to provide
We may ask for some of these details in the application form. It can depend on the type of application you're making.
The applicant is the person or entity that will hold the liquor licence or permit.
There are 4 common types of applicants:
- individual person (on the form called a 'natural person')
- partnership
- company
- incorporated association.
Make sure you choose the right applicant type for your situation.
Your choice will affect the questions the form asks from then on. If you do not choose correctly, you may need to start your application again. You will lose your application fee.
Find out how different applicant types are defined under Definitions.
Details about the applicant
In addition to the type of applicant, you must tell us the:
- name of the person or entity that will hold the licence or permit
- Australian Business Number (ABN), if relevant
- Australian Company Number (ACN), if applying as a company
- name, phone number and email address of the main contact person.
If you're applying as an incorporated association, you must check the entity name matches the name registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria. Search for your name on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.
Trusts
If your business operates through a trust, only the trustee can apply (not the trust itself).
If you are not sure who the trustee is, check the trust deed. It names the trustee.
Other entity types
Councils, TAFEs and co-operatives may also apply for a liquor licence. These often have unique setups. Before you start your application, you may want to contact us to discuss your situation.
You will need to tell us about the people who run or represent your business.
You must give their full name, home address and position held for each person.
If you are applying as:
- a sole trader, you only need to tell us about yourself
- a partnership, you must tell us about all the partners in the partnership
- a company, you must tell us about all directors including any silent or alternate directors. These must match the director names in your ASIC historical company extract.
- an incorporated association, you must tell us about all your executive committee members. For example, your president, secretary, treasurer, vice-president or chairperson. Executive committee members carry all the decision-making power in your association.
Suitability is an assessment of whether you are a fit and proper person to hold a liquor licence.
For this check, you must complete 2 parts:
- questionnaire
- declaration of associates.
We cannot process your application if information is:
- missing
- incomplete
- signed more than 90 days before you apply.
Who completes suitability information
Anyone declared under the ‘Applicant details’ section must complete the questionnaire and declaration of associates.
The form will automatically display the correct parts for you to complete, depending on who is applying.
If you are applying as:
- an individual, you must complete a questionnaire and the declaration of associates Part B.
- a partnership, all individual partners must complete their own questionnaire and declaration of associates Part B.
If you are applying as a company or incorporated association:
- a director or executive committee member must complete a declaration of associates Part A for that company or incorporated association.
- each director or executive committee member must complete their own individual questionnaire and declaration of associates Part B.
If you have registered a nominee, they must complete a questionnaire only.
Questionnaire
The personal history questionnaire asks about your:
- personal details such as current and prior names
- date of birth
- contact details
- criminal history
- professional and liquor licensing history.
We send a copy of your questionnaire to Victoria Police. They may contact you as part of their review process.
Declaration of associates
An associate is someone who either:
- has a financial interest in the business (read the definition below)
- can influence how alcohol is sold or how the business is run
- is a relative involved in running the business.
In this form, you must declare all of your associates.
We need this information to check that the people who influence your business are also fit and proper people.
We need you to tell us about your business and how it will operate.
Include as much detail as you can.
If you do not provide enough detail, we may need to ask for more information. This may delay getting your decision.
Include information such as:
- where will you supply alcohol (for example, at a bar, bottle shop, home, commercial party bus)
- who you will supply alcohol to (for example, retailers, general public, club members)
- what type of alcohol you will sell (for example, beer, cider, wine, cocktails)
- whether you are making the alcohol yourself (for example, if you are a producer or distiller)
- how you intend to supply alcohol (for example, glasses of wine in a cafe, bottles of wine or beer at a supermarket, as part of tasting sessions at your deli)
- your main business activity (for example, live music, serving meals, sexually explicit entertainment)
- whether your venue is providing entertainment and what hours and days you will provide it (for example, karaoke from 5 pm to midnight Thursday to Sunday)
- any unusual ways you will serve alcohol (for example, tasting experiences, bottomless brunches, raffles).
Venues that provide karaoke have a high risk of alcohol-related harm. If you have a karaoke venue, we will ask you for a venue management plan that includes how you will reduce this risk.
You must tell us your maximum patron capacity if you are applying for one of these licence types:
- general (including late night)
- on-premises (including late night)
- restaurant and cafe
- club (full or restricted).
Maximum patron capacity is the total number of customers allowed in your licensed area at one time.
We use this number to:
- assess the risk of your application
- calculate your annual licence renewal fee
- include as a condition on your licence.
You must provide a supporting document, such as a:
- planning permit if it includes maximum patron capacity (not all permits do)
- red line plan showing the total square metres of your licensed area.
If you're using a red line plan, you can calculate your maximum patron capacity using the ratio of 1 person for each 0.75 square metres.
The formula is total floor space (in square metres) divided by 0.75 = maximum patrons.
For example, 60 square metres divided by 0.75 = 80 people (maximum patron capacity).
We cannot progress your application without the supporting document.
Musical entertainment can range from a solo singer or guitarist in a restaurant to karaoke or live music events.
You need to tell us if you provide any entertainment, such as:
- live music or amplified music (music that uses electricity to increase the sound)
- karaoke
- ambient music (quiet enough that people can talk across the table without raising their voices).
If you have live or amplified music, we’ll usually ask for a venue management plan.
Venues that provide karaoke have a high risk of alcohol-related harm. If you have a karaoke venue, we will ask you for a venue management plan that includes how you will reduce this risk.
It is an offence to allow unaccompanied minors (under 18s) at your licensed venue.
An unaccompanied minor means they are not in the company of a responsible adult.
Exceptions apply if minors are either:
- having a meal
- staying in accommodation where the rooms are licensed.
To apply for permanent approval to allow unaccompanied minors at your venue:
- Complete the form.
Permanent approval to permit underage persons on licensed premises(opens in a new window)PDF 216.37 KB- Add it in the Uploads section of the application form.
We cannot progress your application without this form.
You’ll also need to tell us:
- why you’re seeking approval
- the trading hours when unaccompanied minors would be at your venue.
Definitions
You may come across these words, depending on the type of application you're making.
An associate of a licensee is someone who either:
- has a financial interest in the business (read the definition below)
- can influence how alcohol is sold or how the business is run
- is a relative involved in running the business.
This is a legal term used to describe any entity that can hold a licence (except individuals and partnerships).
For example:
- public companies
- private companies
- incorporated associations
- clubs.
It is not the same as the real estate term body corporate (owners corporation), which relates to apartment buildings or units.
Companies are entities registered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
They have either Pty Ltd or Ltd at the end of the company name.
Companies have directors and a company secretary.
When we refer to council, we mean a municipal council (for example, City of Yarra, City of Greater Bendigo).
A person who has control of a public or private company.
The group that manages an incorporated association, such as a club.
It usually includes a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary.
Sometimes the executive committee is a chairperson with a small committee that makes decisions for the larger group.
The term financial interest usually comes up in relation to associates.
If a person has a financial interest in a business, it means they have contributed a significant amount of money or equity to it.
Their financial interest can include:
- helping to pay for goods or services
- holding shares and receiving payments like dividends
- having influence or decision-making power within the business.
An incorporated association is a body corporate registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV). It's often a local sporting club, theatre or charity.
Incorporated associations have the word 'incorporated' or 'Inc' at the end of their name.
If you're applying as an incorporated association, your name must match your registration with CAV.
If it does not, or we can't find you in CAV’s database, we will ask you to provide a copy of your incorporation certificate.
A nominee is a person approved on a licence, usually the manager of the licensed venue or location.
They do not need to be a director or executive committee member.
What a nominee does
The nominee is responsible for running the licensed venue, in addition to the licensee. They are legally responsible for any offences that occur there.
You are not required to have a nominee, unless all your directors or executive committee members are interstate or overseas. In that case, you must have a nominee that's based in Victoria.
You can only have one nominee and they must be a person (not a company).
The individuals who make up a partnership.
There will be at least 2 partners.
A partnership can only be made up of individual people.
If you are applying as a partnership, you must tell us of all partners. This applies even if they will not be involved in the supply of alcohol.
A person is the individual or sole trader who will be running the business.
The person who is regularly in control of the supply of alcohol and day-to-day running of the venue.
It can be a:
- director
- executive committee member
- venue or shop manager
- employee who is regularly managing the venue.
They can be the same person as the nominee, if you have one.
Relative associates include a:
- spouse (someone you are married to)
- partner (someone you are in a committed relationship with but not married to)
- parent
- sibling
- children and their spouses or partners.
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