Liquor Licence NSWBottle shop liquor licence (NSW)
A packaged liquor licence lets you sell alcohol for consumption away from the premises from a bottle shop, with tastings, phone and online orders and delivery. Bottle shops can't trade after midnight, and the licence isn't available for service stations, takeaway food shops or, generally, small grocery stores.
What the licence allows
You can
- Sell alcohol for consumption away from the premises
- Free tastings in store
- Phone, online orders and home delivery
- Sell wholesale to other licence holders
- Sunday trading from 10pm to midnight, with an extended trading authorisation
Limits
- No trading after midnight on any day
- Not available for service stations or takeaway food shops
- Generally not available for small grocery stores unless an exception applies
- Larger general stores need a separate liquor sales area
- Closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday
- No drinking on the premises, other than tastings
Authorisations often added
- Extended trading
- 6-hour closure variation
Applying for authorisations together with the licence is usually quicker than adding them later.
Cost
The cost depends on the authorisations you need. Our calculator gives an estimate that includes our professional costs and all NSW Government fees and charges.
Common questions
An authorisation to trade beyond standard hours. On-premises, bar and hotel licences have standard hours to midnight, so extended trading covers trading after midnight. Small bars already trade to 2am, and bottle shops can extend Sunday trading from 10pm to midnight. Regular late trading also increases your annual licence fee.
A Statement of Risks and Potential Effects (SoRPE) describes the impact a liquor licence might have on the local community. Certain applications need one, depending on the licence type and the notification required. A well-prepared SoRPE deals with risks before objectors raise them.
Yes. The incoming licensee applies to transfer the licence, usually with the outgoing licensee's consent, and the business can keep trading while it's assessed. Provisional approval usually comes within ten business days of a complete application, with confirmation usually within 60 days if there are no objections.