Apply for a liquor licence – sex industry

Both venues offering sexually explicit entertainment or sex services businesses wanting to supply alcohol must hold a liquor licence.

Sex services businesses

The Victorian Government has decriminalised sex work(opens in a new window) to improve public health and human rights outcomes.

Sex services businesses can apply for a liquor licence to commence supplying alcohol. Sex services businesses include brothels, escort agencies, and small owner-operators of home-based businesses.

Apply for your licence

Sex services businesses that wish to supply alcohol can apply for one of the following liquor licences:

  • Renewable limited licence(opens in a new window) – this authorises the supply of alcohol in a limited or restricted way (e.g., limit on trading hours, range of products).
  • On-premises licence(opens in a new window) – this authorises the supply of alcohol for consumption on the licensed premises only. It is also possible to apply to supply alcohol after 1 am.
  • General licence – this authorises the supply of alcohol for consumption both on and off the licensed premises. It is also possible to apply to supply alcohol after 1 am.

Venues providing sexually explicit entertainment

The Liquor Control Reform Act 1998(opens in a new window) defines 'sexually explicit entertainment' as live entertainment that may be performed for an audience by a person performing an act of an explicit sexual nature.

Venues that want to supply alcohol and offer sexually explicit entertainment need to:

  • apply for and hold a liquor licence
  • notify Liquor Control Victoria (LCV).

Apply for your licence

Sexually explicit entertainment venues can apply for one of the following liquor licences:

Apply for the licence above that best fits your requirements.

New licensees providing sexually explicit entertainment must notify LCV within 21 days of providing the entertainment. A penalty applies for failing to do so.(opens in a new window)

Notify LCV

To notify us, use the form below. The form explains additional information required with your application. You can submit the notification form with your licence application.

Sexually explicit entertainment on licensed premises – notification
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Updated