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Special approval for late night trading extended trading authorisation

Extended Trading Authorisation

An extended trading authorisation allows the sale of liquor outside of standard trading hours

Standard trading hours for most licence types are:

  • 5am - midnight, Monday to Sunday

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For a packaged liquor licence, or other licence that authorises the sale of liquor for consumption away from the premises, the standard trading hours for a Sunday are 10am to 10pm, for any part of the premises or activity used for that purpose.

Extended trading for packaged liquor licences

An extended trading authorisation for a packaged liquor licence (bottle shop, supermarket, etc) is more restrictive. An authorisation can only be granted for trade on Sunday's, and only from 5am to 10am and 10pm to 11pm. Given the cost of obtaining an extended trading authorisation it is important to understand it will only provide a very limited expansion of trading hours for your packaged liquor licence.

Extended trading for on-premises (vessel) liquor licences

Extended trading authorisations can be applied for all liquor licences EXCEPT for on-premises (vessel) type licences.

Extended trading for small bar liquor licences

A small bar liquor licence offers a different standard trading period of:

  • 10am to midnight, seven days per week

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Upon grant of a small bar licence, an extended trading authorisation to 2am (seven days per week) will also be granted, often negating the need for a formal application. 

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An extended trading authorisation for a small bar may allow trade from 2am to 5am seven days per week. An authorisation can not allow trade for a small bar before 10am.

Variations and special rules

There are many special rules that apply to extended trading authorisations, these rules affect:

  • hotels and public entertainment venues trading on restricted trading days

  • hotels seeking to trade past midnight on Sundays (except those within defined precincts)

  • hotels trading on Sundays under authorisation provided by a 'special occasion'

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Due to the complexity of an extended trading authorisation, the perceived risk profile, and the additional legislative and procedural steps required to prepare a compliant application, it is advised that business's obtain advice or assistance when considering extended trade. 

Other options for late trading in regional areas

An extended trading authorisation can be expensive, other options exist for licences that do not expect to regularly trade outside of standard trading hours.

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A 'multi-occasion' extended trading condition allows for extended trade to either 1.30am or 3am on 12 occasions per year. This may be a good option where late trading is seasonal or aligns with particular events or functions that occur around once per month.

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Where a licence intends to use of the 12 'occasions' per year, they must provide advance notification to local police, local council and Liquor & Gaming NSW.

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Note, this option is not available for licences situated in:

  • The Greater Sydney Region

  • The Central Coast

  • Lake Macquarie

  • Newcastle

  • Wollongong

Costs

The costs for an extended trading authorisation or 'multi-occasion' extended trading condition vary. The NSW government fees alone are:

  • $375 - for most licences to trade until midnight

  • $3,127 - for most licences to trade until 1.30am

  • $4,377 - for most licences to trade until 5am

  • $375 - for a packaged liquor licence to trade until midnight

  • $1,564 - for a small bar to trade outside standard hours

  • $1,229 - for a 'multi-occasion' extended trading condition

Find out more

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