Compliance checks
Tobacco Licensing Victoria will inspect retail businesses across Melbourne and regional Victoria to:
- check compliance with tobacco laws and licence conditions
- advise on issues that need to be fixed to meet compliance
- issue fines and notices.
Inspectors will ensure ongoing compliance and take enforcement action when required.
Tobacco licence inspector powers
Inspectors can:
- enter premises to check compliance with the law
- collect names and addresses of occupiers of the premises
- obtain and execute search warrants
- seize tobacco products or items that may be used as evidence
- destroy illicit tobacco before criminal proceedings conclude, where authorised under the Tobacco Act
- issue infringement notices
- issue short-term closure notices, and apply to the Magistrates’ Court for long-term closure orders. Learn more about our closure powers.
Licensing inspectors will identify themselves to you and advise you of the reasons for their visit. You can verify a licensing inspector's identity and authorisation by asking to see their official identification card, which includes their name and an inspector number.
We expect licensees and staff to cooperate with inspectors and treat them with respect. It is an offence to obstruct, hinder, threaten, abuse or intimidate an inspector during an inspection.
Ensure your premises is inspection-ready
To prepare for an inspection, make sure your licensed premises has:
- your tobacco licence displayed correctly
- a staff member or licence holder available
- relevant records to prove that you are complying with your licence conditions.
After an inspection
After an inspection, the inspector will discuss:
- what they found
- any issues that need attention to achieve compliance
- any other information they need the licensee to produce.
If an item is seized, it will be recorded and kept securely. Whenever possible, it will be returned as soon as possible. Some items may need to be kept as evidence in case there is a prosecution.
How we enforce the law
Tobacco Licensing Victoria can take enforcement actions to ensure compliance with the Tobacco Act 1987.
Enforcement taken will depend on the seriousness of the offence, the culpability of the offender and other related factors.
Enforcement actions we can take
Penalties
Victoria has some of the strongest penalties for illicit tobacco offences in Australia, including fines and imprisonment.
Find below a list of offences and fines for 2026-2027:
| Offence | Maximum penalties for individuals | Maximum penalties for body corporates |
|---|---|---|
| Possessing Illicit tobacco by tobacco supply businesses | Up to $175,644 or up to 5 years jail | More than $878,220 |
| Selling Illicit tobacco | Up to $376,380 or up to 15 years jail | More than $1.8 million |
| Selling tobacco without a licence | Up to $175,644 or 5 years jail | $878,220 |
| Failing to comply with licence conditions or obligations | Up to $12,546 | $62,730 |
| Providing false or misleading information | Up to $12,546 | $62,730 |
| Failing to display a copy of the licence | Up to $1,046 | $5,228 |
| Selling tobacco to a minor | $2,509 | $12,546 |
| Entering or remaining at a closed premises | $175,664 or 5 years imprisonment | - |
| Supplying non-tobacco goods from a closed premises | $50,184 | $250,920 |
| Supplying tobacco products from a closed premises | $250,90 or 10 years’ imprisonment | $1.25 million |
| Supplying a commercial quantity of illicit tobacco products from a closed premises | $501,840 or 20 years’ imprisonment | $2.5 million |
| Removing or interfering with a closure order notice | $25,092 | - |
Roles of other Victorian government agencies
Updated