As a licensee you must not allow a drunk, violent or argumentative person to enter or be at your licensed venue.
There are 3 ways you can stop them:
- refuse entry or ask them to leave
- issue a barring order
- ban them through a liquor accord.
Refuse entry or ask to leave
As long as the reason is not discriminatory, you and your staff have the right to:
- refuse anyone entry to your licensed venue
- ask anyone to leave your venue.
You do not need any special forms.
If the person's behaviour is ongoing or creates a serious incident, you can consider banning or barring them from your venue.
Issue a barring order
A barring order is a legal order that prohibits a person from entering or remaining at a licensed venue or location for a set period of time.
The order must be in writing and you must give it to the person being barred.
Issuing a valid barring order
To issue a valid barring order, you must:
- be a licensee, venue manager (responsible person in charge of the venue) or police officer
- use the official barring order booklet
- record the person’s name, address and date of birth, if known.
Licensees must keep a record of all barring orders issued.
If you receive a barring order
If you are issued with a barring order you must:
- leave the venue immediately
- not go within 20 metres of the venue until the order expires.
If you return before then, Victoria Police can issue a fine or charge you with an offence.
Get a barring order booklet
To get a barring order booklet (containing 25 carbon copy forms):
- email contact@liquor.vic.gov.au with the subject line Request barring order booklet
- include your liquor licence number and venue details, including its name and address.
You can also pick one up from your local liquor forum or accord meeting.
Change or cancel a barring order
If you are the barred person, you can ask for the order to be changed or cancelled.
You can ask the:
- licensee who issued the order (best option, as they know why they made the order)
- Victorian Liquor Commission.
The licensee who issued the order, Victoria Police or the Victorian Liquor Commission can also initiate changing or cancelling an order.
The Commission will only use its powers to ensure fairness and accuracy with the barring order process.
Use this form to make a request:
Ban a person
If you’re part of a liquor accord, its members can agree to ban a person from all participating venues.
When deciding on a ban:
- keep the process fair and transparent.
- make the ban match the seriousness of the incident.
- limit bans to a reasonable period (up to a maximum of 12 months).
Accord members can only share the name and ban period of the banned person, for the purpose of enforcing the ban.
Police banning powers
Some areas with lots of licensed venues and troublesome alcohol-related behaviour have been declared as designated areas.
In these areas, police can issue a banning notice for up to 72 hours.
This can ban a person from either:
- all licensed venues in the designated area
- the entire designated area.
Find out more, including maps of designated areas in Victoria.
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