Primary Service Authorisation

A Primary Service Authorisation gives your on-premises licence the flexibility to supply liquor without another product or service

It is a standard condition of all on-premises liquor licences that liquor can only be sold or supplied with, or ancillary to, another product or service that is also sold, supplied or provided to patrons on the premises.

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The most obvious example, is that a standard on-premises restaurant liquor licence can only supply liquor to patrons who are also being provided with a meal. This applies to EVERY patron.

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A Primary Service Authorisation allows an on-premises licence to supply liquor to patrons who are not being sold or provided with the other product or service. In the example of an on-premises restaurant licence with a Primary Service Authorisation, this means a patron can be supplied liquor without necessarily having to also be provided with a meal.

The primary purpose must remain

Even though a Primary Service Authorisation allows a licence to supply liquor without another product or service, the provision of that other product or service must remain the primary purpose of the business under the liquor licence. This means an on-premises restaurant licence with a Primary Service Authorisation must still offer meals and the restaurant service as the primary part of the business.

The sale and supply of liquor can not become the primary purpose of the licence. If your business model changes so that liquor is the primary offering, then your on-premises liquor licence is no longer valid and you must apply for a more appropriate liquor licence.

Common businesses that use Primary Service Authorisations

The most common business models that use Primary Service Authorisations are:

• Restaurants and cafes - liquor can be sold to customers not eating a meal

• Accommodation providers - liquor can be sold to customers not using the accommodation service (usually in a public restaurant or bar attached to the accommodation).

Why wouldn't all restaurants or cafes have a Primary Service Authorisation?

Firstly, not all restaurant business models want to offer the supply of liquor without a meal.

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Secondly, a Primary Service Authorisation raises the risk profile of the liquor licence and requires the undertaking of a Community Impact Statement. This will add additional time and mandatory steps to the application process. A Primary Service Authorisation will also prevent an eligible application from making use of the Interim Restaurant Authorisation.