Our history – liquor

Pre 1860 

Licensing of four types of licences by Clerk of Petty Sessions.

1863

Publicans Act – reduced licensing to 2 types of licences by Clerk of Petty Sessions.

1885

Licensing Act specified persons 14 years or older may purchase takeaway liquor and persons 18 years or older may drink on premises.

1912 

Liquor Act 1912 – four types of licences (Licensed Victualler’s Licence, Winemakers, Packet, Billiard).

1935 

Establishment of the Licensing Commission.

1961

Restaurant licences introduced.

1970

Women permitted to drink in public bars.

1974

Licence types had increased to 29 and permit types to 16

Introduction of the Licensing Court

Legal drinking age reduced from 21 to 18 years of age.

1982

Introduction of 24 hour drinking for Commonwealth Games.

1985

1985 Introduction of casino, public facility and canteen licences for indigenous trust areas.

1988

Introduction of detached bottle shops.

1992

New Liquor Act 1992 introduced:

• abolition of Licensing Commission and Court
• all decisions by chief executive
• appeals to Tribunal
• licence types reduced to seven and permits to five.

1994

Introduction of the Wine Industry Act.

1997

Abolition of annual licence fees charged on liquor sales.

2005

Premier’s 17 point City Safety Action plan introduced

3.00am lock-out provisions introduced.

2009 

New Liquor laws:

• harm minimisation as first object of the Liquor Act 1992
• community impact statements and risk assessed
• management plans introduced
• two licence types and five permit types
• annual licence fees based on risk introduced
• responsible service of alcohol for all employees and responsible management of licensed venues for all licensees introduced
• irresponsible supply provisions introduced
• ministerial banning power introduced
• glassing legislation.