Key changes under the Vibrancy Reforms

Club authorisation to hold functions away from premises

Club licence holders can apply for an authorisation to hold functions away from their licensed premises, subject to eligibility criteria.

The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) must be satisfied that the off-site function will benefit club members and their guests.

Find out more about club functions authorisation on the Club – liquor licence webpage.

Removal of restrictions on glassware

Licence conditions that prohibit drinks being served in glass containers are being reviewed and may be removed where appropriate.

What this means:

• Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) is proactively reviewing affected licences. You do not need to apply.
• As part of this review, conditions may be removed or varied if L&GNSW is satisfied that doing so would not increase the risk of violence or alcohol-related harm. Consultation will occur with the NSW Police Force.
• L&GNSW may contact licensees to request information or submissions as part of the assessment process.
• Venues will be notified of the outcome, regardless of the decision.
• Venues may still choose to use plastic drinkware if they prefer.

Note venues may still choose to use plastic drinkware if they wish.

New application pathway for varying/removing certain licence conditions

A new fee-free streamlined application pathway has been introduced for licensees to have an existing condition revoked or varied that impacts night-time business activity. L&GNSW can change or remove certain licence conditions imposed by the Secretary or ILGA.  

Eligible conditions include:

• restrictions on the number of drinks that may be purchased in a single transaction
• restrictions on the type of drinks that may be sold or supplied on the premises
• requirements for security personnel to be present
• lockout or patron entry curfew requirements.

L&GNSW may propose alternative conditions where necessary to mitigate risks associated with removing an existing condition. 

Licensees can apply to change or remove these conditions using the online application form. 

Live music and performance incentive eligibility changes

Eligible live music and performance venues can trade for up to 2 extra hours on nights where a live performance is held, and receive an 80% discount on certain liquor licence fees, if you meet the requirements below.

Regional venues

• Have a space that is predominantly or regularly used for live music (a dedicated room or space is no longer required).
• From 15 March 2026 you must hold 104 performances per year, (no longer a requirement to reach a number each week).

Metropolitan venues

• From 15 March 2026, host 10 live music performances per month.

Eligible performance start times

• From 15 March 2026, eligible performances can start from 6pm and 12 noon on weekends.

Records and evidence

• You must keep evidence of the performances you host.

Liquor & Gaming NSW may request performance records to confirm eligibility for the 80% discount on liquor licence fees.

More information on venue eligibility and the application process is available on the incentives for live music and performance venues webpage.

Incentives in Special Entertainment Precincts (SEP)

Venues in a designated Special Entertainment Precinct can access extended trading incentives to support live music and arts and cultural activity.

Extended trading incentives

• Extend trading for 1 extra hour on all nights of the week and receive an 80% discount on certain liquor licence fees.
• Venues must be located inside a SEP and meet eligibility criteria to be listed on Liquor & Gaming NSW’s live music and performance venues list.

More information on eligibility and how to access these incentives is available on the incentives for live music and performance venues webpage.

Special event extended trading

Special events are declared by the Minister as being of regional, state or national significance.

Eligible events and venues

• Eligible venues are nominated for each event and notified in advance.
• Special Event Extended trading may now be approved for up to 24 hours before and after an event takes place.

Eligible licence types

• More licence types can apply for special event extended trading, including on-premises restaurants and producer wholesaler licences with a drink on premises authorisation.

The full list of declared special events is available on the Special event extended trading webpage.

Extended trading for special occasions

An Extended Trading Authorisation (ETA) – Special Occasion lets a venue apply to trade beyond its usual liquor trading hours for special occasions.

Application requirements

• Venues no longer need to provide independent supporting evidence with an ETA – Special Occasion application.

Learn more on the Extended Trading Authorisation - Special Occasion form.

Limited licences for special events

Limited licence for special events, permits the sale or supply of alcohol at a location that does not already hold a liquor licence, as long as selling and supplying alcohol is not the sole reason for holding the event.

Eligibility

• Special event licences are now available for genuine, infrequent or temporary events in the public interest.

Learn about limited special event licences.

Extended trading for hotels hosting live music

Hotels that host regular live music or arts and cultural events can now apply for extended trading.

Eligibility

• The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) must give due weight to the strong positive social impact associated with hosting these events.
• To qualify:
  • metropolitan venues must schedule at least 10 events each month, non-metropolitan venues must schedule 2 events each week
  • performances need to be 45 minutes or more
  • performances must be held from 6pm on weekdays and 12 noon on weekends.
• Venues must not operate gaming machines during the extended trading hours.

Learn more about applying on the Hotel liquor licence forms webpage.

Noise regulation reforms

Liquor & Gaming NSW is now the lead agency for entertainment noise complaints about licensed venues. Key changes include:

• Five people who live or work in the neighbourhood are required to make a statutory disturbance complaint. This is an increase from the three people previously required.
• Complainants must attempt to address the issues directly with the licensee before making a disturbance complaint.
• 'Order of occupancy' is now a key consideration, meaning whether the licensed venue or the complainant were in the area first is an important factor in the complaint.
• Licensed venues are exempt from noise pollution laws if they follow licence rules.

Improvement notices can be issued by agencies where an immediate response is needed.

To learn more, see reforms to venue sound management.

Removal of outdated liquor licence conditions

Certain outdated licence conditions have been automatically switched off. These include noise and amenity-related conditions that restrict live music or entertainment and impose sound limits or acoustic controls.

Conditions were switched off if they were imposed before 24 November 2022, examples include:

Conditions that prohibit or restrict live music or entertainment

• no entertainment or music is to continue past certain times
• entertainment is limited to background music
• no entertainment or music is to be provided in an outdoor area
• windows and doors must remain closed when amplified music is played.

Conditions that impose sound limits or acoustic restrictions

• decibel-based controls such as the LA10 criteria
• use of noise limiters
• placement and use of speakers.

These conditions may still be visible on your liquor license. L&GNSW will undertake a process to remove these conditions on individual liquor licences throughout 2026. You do not need to apply for them to be removed.

Licensees must continue to minimise impacts on nearby residents and businesses and maintain the quiet and good order of the neighbourhood. Where necessary, L&GNSW may reimpose these licence conditions.

For further information, visit the Reforms to venue sound management regulation webpage.

Removal of some outdated music-related conditions of development consent

Conditions of development consent or plans of management have been switched off at licensed premises that prohibit:

• particular music genres
• the number or types of instruments
• the number of musicians
• the playing of original music or whether dancing occurs
• the presence of a dancefloor,
• the direction a stage faces, and
• use of decorations (e.g. mirror balls).

This does not include:

• conditions of a complying development consent (CDC)
• venues within state significant developments.

Live entertainment conditions on development consents

In addition, conditions of development consent or plans of management have been switched off that prohibit 'live entertainment' at hotels, clubs and small bars. This does not include complying development consents (CDC).

Expiry dates on new licence conditions

New liquor licence conditions can have expiry dates attached. Temporary conditions may be set to expire on a specified date or once the licensee meets tailored eligibility criteria.

For more information on licence conditions, visit the Liquor licence conditions webpage.

Outdoor dining reforms

Licensed venues are now able to convert a temporary outdoor dining boundary to a permanent boundary for free.

Patrons are no longer automatically required to be seated in temporary outdoor dining areas on footpaths and roads.

More information is available on the Changing licenced boundaries webpage.

Councils can approve outdoor dining/live performance in public spaces

Strengthening competency card revocation powers

Competency cards can now be revoked for serious offences. 

The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) will be able to revoke a person’s competency card where:

• the person has been charged with or found guilty of a sexual offence, drink spiking, or other offence listed in clause 76 of the Liquor Regulation 2018, and
• the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority considers their continued employment poses a significant risk of harm to employees or patrons on the licensed premises where the person works, or
• the person is no longer considered fit and proper to hold a competency card.

ILGA can:

• immediately suspend a person’s competency card once they have been given notice, while a formal decision is made on whether to revoke it
• permanently disqualify a person from holding a recognised competency card or a specific endorsement, or
• disqualify them for a set period with no maximum limit. This replaces the previous 12-month cap.

More information can be found on the Safe and respectful workplaces in licensed venues webpage.

Strengthening disciplinary powers

New disciplinary powers for misconduct on licenced premises, which aim to protect patrons and employees.

Disciplinary powers

• Allow disciplinary action against a licensee who fails to prevent or address a significant risk to the safety of employees or other persons on the licensed premises.
• Allow L&GNSW to approve or adopt a Code of Practice that sets out standards for maintaining a safe working environment.

More information can be found on the Safe and respectful workplaces in licensed venues webpage.

Staff discretion when managing intoxication

Licensees and venue staff have some discretion to allow intoxicated patrons to stay on the premises for medical help or transport.

To use this exemption, all of the following conditions must be met:

• the person is refused service of liquor after the licensee or staff are made aware the person is intoxicated
• the person is actively monitored by a staff member until they leave the premises
• transport options for the patron, or medical care (where appropriate) is actively being sought for the intoxicated person
• the incident is reported in an incident register, including:
  • the time the licensee or staff became aware that the person was intoxicated
  • actions taken by the licensee or staff
  • the time of the patron’s departure
• the intoxicated person does not cause a disturbance or make unreasonable noise
• the person does not enter a gaming room.

For more information on this reform, visit the Managing intoxicated patrons webpage.

Takeaway liquor sales 

Small bars and restaurants can apply for a Takeaway Sales Authorisation to sell limited amounts of liquor in unsealed containers for takeaway or home delivery purposes. Small bars selling house made cocktails do not require this authorisation.

Apply for a takeaway sales authorisation.

Information on relevant licence types can be found at:

• Small bar – liquor licence
• On premises – restaurant licence

Expanded on-premises licence eligibility 

Venues with amusement machines such as pinball, pool tables, poker games, or jukeboxes can now apply for an On-premises liquor licence.

More information on On-premises licence eligibility and the application process is available on the On-premises – liquor licence webpage.

Retaining trading hours when relocating to a similar location

Hotels and clubs can keep their trading hours when moving to similar premises.

Eligibility:

The venue must meet one of the two distance tests to be eligible:

• Within 1 kilometre: The venue may relocate to another site within 1 kilometre of its current premises and keep their licence and trading hour provisions, provided the new site is zoned for the same land-use purpose as the existing premises. This applies in all areas, including rural or regional locations.
• Within 5 kilometres: The venue may relocate up to 5 kilometres from its current premises and keep their licence and trading hour provisions, but only if the new site is on land that is officially zoned for urban use (such as in a town, suburb, or city), or directly adjoins such land.

Hotels are eligible if they have unrestricted trading Monday to Saturday.

Clubs are eligible if they had unrestricted trading Monday to Sunday prior to 1 July 2008.

Applications must be made to the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA).

Learn more about Hotel licences and Club licences.

Additional manager leave flexibility

The requirement to appoint a new manager when the current venue manager takes leave for more than 28 days, has been removed.

Licensees can apply to the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) for extensions to the 28-day time frame.

To apply for an exemption, see Exemption from Requirement that Licensee not be absent form (PDF 321.99KB). 

Temporary indoor boundary extensions

Licensed premises can apply to temporarily extend their boundaries into adjacent indoor spaces, such as buildings, rooms or structures connected to the venue.

More information is available on Temporary change of boundaries webpage.

Producer & wholesaler licence changes

Certain licensed producers can now:

• sell their products at more markets, festivals and other eligible events, including those with a mix of food, crafts and produce
• use off-site production facilities for brewing or distilling, such as a farm using a third-party site to make its product
• operate multiple licensed premises under the one licence, provided they are within 10km of each other in metropolitan areas or 20km in regional areas.

To find out more, see Producer/wholesaler licences.

Extending standard trading hours

Standard trading on Sundays now runs from 5am to midnight, matching standard trading hours on all other days of the week. This change means venues can apply to trade until midnight on Sundays if their liquor licence does not already allow it.

Venues must apply to change their liquor licence conditions to align with the new Sunday trading period.

The standard trading period does not override existing liquor trading times imposed on individual liquor licences. The standard six-hour closure requirement still applies.

More information, including how to change your trading hours, can be found on the webpage for the respective licence types. 

Small bar trading hours 

New standard hours for small bars now start at 10am. Venues must apply to have their hours amended.

The standard trading period does not override existing liquor trading times imposed on individual liquor licences. The standard six-hour closure requirement still applies.

To learn more, see the Small bars webpage.

Registered clubs 5km rule removed

Liquor licence application reforms

The process to apply for a liquor licence has been streamlined.

Reforms:

• the 30-day pre-lodgement period has been removed, and a single consultation process now runs through the Liquor & Gaming NSW noticeboard
• applicants may need to submit a Statement of Risks and Potential Effects (SoRPE) with the application. This is required for certain higher risk applications.
• community consultation is still encouraged but not mandatory. For more information, please visit the consultation reforms webpage.

Enabling former licensees to re-enter the industry

Former licensees whose licensee endorsement expired within the last three years can now renew their Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) or Licensee endorsement by completing Licensee Training only.

To learn more, see Licensee and Advanced Licensee Training.

Recognising interstate digital driver licences

Interstate digital driver licences (DDLs) are now accepted as proof of age in NSW.

Read more about checking evidence of age.

Unaccompanied minors in liquor stores and takeaway liquor areas 

Unaccompanied minors are now prohibited from entering or remaining in:

• bottle shops
• the liquor sales area of a supermarket
• any dedicated area on licensed premises that sells takeaway liquor in sealed containers.

An adult responsible for a minor must also not leave the minor unaccompanied in these areas.

The restriction does not apply in the following cases:

• an unaccompanied minor is in a supermarket with a liquor sales area, but not in the liquor sales area
• a minor leaves the area in a reasonable period after being told by a responsible person that they must not be in the area.
• the minor is an employee and not involved in sale or supply of liquor (where approved by the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority)
• liquor is sold for takeaway or home delivery from a licensed premises that cannot do walk-up sales. For example, where the licensed premises is a home office.

Some venues may be eligible to apply for an exemption from this restriction and/or and for minors to be able to work in the licensed premises.

Learn more about minors in licensed venues.

There are also mandatory signage requirements to be placed where anyone entering the venue can see.

To get print versions of relevant signs, see Signs for your business.

Public feedback on liquor licence applications

Anyone can now submit feedback or objections on liquor licence applications or changes to licence conditions. This includes individuals, regardless of whether their employment or community position would previously have restricted them from commenting.

Contractual or commercial agreements can no longer prevent a person from submitting a concern or objection to the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority.

How to make a submission.

Contract caterers can sell alcohol under club licence

Contract caterers on club premises, can now sell alcohol under a club’s liquor licence, subject to appropriate controls.

The definition of “employee” in the Liquor Act has been expanded to include contract caterers and their employees, only for the purposes of enabling them to sell liquor under the club’s licence.

Contract staff selling or serving liquor under the club’s licence, will be required to hold a recognised competency card or RSA. 

Alcohol-free drinks allowed

Alcohol-free drinks can now be sold at licensed and unlicensed venues.

They must not be marketed to appeal to minors.

Clubs relocating retain unrestricted trading

Clubs that had unrestricted trading before 1 July 2008, will no longer loose this status if they move a short distance, provided the new premises is similar to their original location.

Eligibility:

• the new site must be within 5km of the original premises
• the new premises must have similar zoning and land use characteristics (for example, another club site or a property with comparable development approval).
• applicants are required to prepare a Statement of Risks and Potential Effects (SoRPE) that must be lodged with the application.

Learn more about Club licences.

Precinct-based venue fees removed

Kings Cross and Sydney CBD venues pay the same fees as other licences across the State, with the precinct-based fees removed.

Learn more about liquor licensing fees.  

ID scanner requirement removed

There is no longer a mandatory required to use ID scanners in prescribed precincts.

Licensees may still choose to use them voluntarily.

Any licensee who already has a Privacy Endorsement to operate scanners will keep the endorsement on their competency card. 

Gambling credit restrictions

Venues cannot provide gambling credit or cash from a credit or debit card transaction intended for gambling.

If these actions occur, they must be record in the venue’s incident register.

Incident register timeframe

All licenced venues required to keep an incident register must now record any incident in their register as soon as practicable, and no later than 24 hours after it occurs.

This includes incidents such as violent behaviour, serious intoxication, refusal of entry, or removal of patrons.

Visit the incident register webpage.

L&GNSW enforcement powers expanded

L&GNSW can now:

• issue written directions to licensees or staff
• issue improvement notices for minor breaches
• accept enforceable undertakings to avoid court action.

L&GNSW is now able to give a licensee under gaming and liquor legislation, or an employee or agent, a written direction about any matter relating to the licensed premises, including conduct on the licensed premises, or the supervision or control of the licensed premises.

A licensee, employee or agent to whom a direction is given must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with the direction.

There is a maximum penalty of 100 penalty units.

An improvement notice can be issued by Liquor & Gaming NSW to a licensee, employee or agent, and will include clear directions on the actions required and the date they must be completed.

Venues can continue trading during the notice period. This allows issues to be addressed cooperatively without immediate penalties. 

An enforceable undertaking is a legally binding agreement between Liquor & Gaming NSW and a licensee. It may require the licensee to take or avoid certain actions where a breach of the Liquor Act has occurred or is likely to occur. Undertakings may also be used to prevent potential harm.

Disciplinary action will not be taken while an enforceable undertaking is in place. If a licensee fails to comply, the undertaking can be referred to the Supreme Court. The court may order compliance or apply penalties as if the licensee were in contempt.

Further information can be found on Reforms to the regulation of venue sound.