Ministerial directions, guidelines and orders for liquor licensing

Ministerial directions and guidelines are issued by the relevant Minister in the Government Gazette.

The directions and guidelines set the direction for liquor licensing in Victoria, and are taken into account by the Victorian Liquor Commission in licensing decisions.

Ministerial Direction on Failed Packaged Liquor Deliveries

On 21 September 2022, the Minister published a Ministerial Order amending the licence conditions of any liquor licence authorising the supply of off-premises packaged liquor deliveries.

For each liquor licence under which off-premises packaged liquor deliveries are made, licence holders must now keep a record of:

1. the number of off-premises deliveries made
2. the number of failed off-premises deliveries
3. the reason for each failed delivery, being that:
   1. the recipient was a minor
   2. the delivery address was unattended
   3. [for first-time orders (not gifts)] the person who placed the order could not produce a suitable evidence of age document or was not at home to accept the order
   4. [for gifts] no recipient at the delivery address could produce a suitable evidence of age document or was not at home to accept the order, or
   5. the recipient was intoxicated or there was a substantial risk that they were intoxicated.
4. the date and time when each delivery refusal occurred, and
5. the postcode of the location in which the failed delivery occurred.

Affected licensees must submit that information to the Victorian Liquor Commission by 30 July each year using the reporting template on failed packaged liquor deliveries page.

The obligation commences from 22 September 2022. The first reporting period will be from 22 September 2022 to 30 June 2023, and for each financial year thereafter.

For more information, see failed packaged liquor deliveries.

Cumulative impact decision-making guidelines

The Decision-Making Guidelines for cumulative impact apply to liquor licence applications for new licensed premises and variations to existing licensed premises that were submitted since 4 August 2011.

Cumulative impact refers to the impacts that results from a concentration of licensed premises in a defined area. Evidence suggests that cumulative impact is associated with a range of both positive and negative outcomes that arise from the combination of many factors such as physical and environmental setting, the mix of premises, and their operating conditions.

The positive outcomes can include the creation of a local identity or status as an entertainment destination, enhanced vitality of the area, economic benefits, and an increase in consumer choice.

The negative outcomes of cumulative impact can include crime, a loss of amenity, and antisocial behaviours.

Potential cumulative impacts vary between locations and depend on the number and type of licensed premises, and the capacity of the local area to accommodate the concentration.

The Guidelines enable the Victorian Liquor Commission to assess the contribution of new licensed premises or the variation of existing licensed premises to the cumulative impact of licensed premises in an area.

For more information read the Decision making guidelines below.

Ministerial Order on Advanced RSA training

The Minister has determined that applicants for a new late night (general) licence or late night (on-premises) licence that authorises the supply of liquor after 1am for on-premises consumption must complete the advanced RSA training program. This requirement does not apply in relation to late night (on-premises) licences with restaurant and cafe conditions.

The Minister has also determined that holders of a general licence, on-premises licence, late night (general) licence or late night (on-premises) licence that authorises the supply of liquor after 11pm for on-premises consumption must complete the advanced RSA training program if they receive a demerit point from the Liquor Control Victoria.

The Ministerial Order on Advanced RSA training is available to download.

More information on advanced RSA training is available for further details.

Packaged liquor licence decision-making guidelines

The Decision-Making Guidelines for packaged liquor apply to licences seeking to supply packaged liquor, including those that operate outside ordinary trading hours. It considers the grant of licences seeking to supply packaged liquor within the objective of harm minimisation. It states that licences seeking to supply packaged liquor with trading hours that are greater than ordinary trading hours (as defined in section 3 of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998) should only be granted by the Commission in exceptional circumstances, and that hours should not extend past midnight.

Decision-making guidelines for applications for late night licences in inner-Melbourne areas

On 30 June 2023 the Acting Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation issued decision-making guidelines(opens in a new window) that must be considered by the regulator when assessing an application for a new liquor licence or change to an existing liquor licence authorising trading after 1am in the 4 inner city local government areas (Melbourne, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Yarra).

For more information visit the Late night liquor trading(opens in a new window) page.