The Liquor Act sets out the minimum requirements by which you need to abide if you wish to supply liquor from your premises, including the requirement to obtain a licence.

The primary purpose of this Act is to minimise the harm associated with the consumption of liquor in a way that recognises the public's interest in the sale, supply, service, promotion and consumption of liquor.

The Northern Territory Government Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade is the authority that issues licences and regulates licensed premises. There are several types of licences, but most live music venues hold either a small bar, public bar or club/community club licence. All licences contain conditions that you must comply with, including trading hours, maximum patron numbers, availability of food and amenity provisions.

One of the key requirements under the Liquor Act is the requirement for licensees and staff selling, offering or serving liquor for general, on premises, late night and packaged liquor licences to complete an approved Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training course. Staff have to receive their RSA within 7 days of starting employment in a licensed venue. Once you have completed the course, you need to renew it every three years. The licensee is required to keep an RSA register with a record of each staff members’ current RSA certification. Licensees are also required to familiarise themselves with the requirements around promoting alcohol responsibly.

In addition, the licence applicant will need to prove they are a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a liquor minimum requirements licence. Requirements to prove this are outlined on the Licensing NT website.

Licensees are required to display their current liquor licence and any other signage required under the Liquor Act in a prominent position in their venue. Gambling and liquor inspectors or a member of the police may inspect licensed premises at any time to check compliance with the Liquor Act.

Some of the most serious offences under the Liquor Act are:

• Supplying liquor without a licence;
• Supplying liquor not in accordance with the licence;
• Supplying liquor to an intoxicated person; • Permitting a drunken or disorderly person on the premises;
• Supplying liquor to a minor; and
• Permitting a minor on licensed premises (there are some exceptions to this rule – see Chapter 6 for hosting underage events on licensed premises).

Annual liquor license fees are risk assessed with licensed venues taking greater steps to reduce harm awarded a lower licence cost.