LCQ Special Licences and Events 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, what is a special licence in NZ?
- A premium on-licence for high-end restaurants
- A licence issued for a specific event or series of events that allows the sale and supply of alcohol at a venue not normally licensed (Correct answer)
- A temporary extension of an existing on-licence to cover outdoor areas
- A licence for selling alcohol online
Correct answer: A licence issued for a specific event or series of events that allows the sale and supply of alcohol at a venue not normally licensed
A special licence authorises the sale and supply of alcohol at a specific event or series of events, at a venue or location that may not have a permanent licence.
Special licences allow alcohol to be sold at events such as festivals, fundraisers, markets, sporting events, and community gatherings. They are event-specific — each application must specify the event, the dates, the location, the hours, and the nature of the event. They can be granted to organisations or individuals who do not hold a permanent licence. The DLC assesses each application against the Act's criteria.
Question 2: Under NZ law, who can apply for a special licence?
- Only incorporated societies and registered charities
- Any person or organisation seeking to sell alcohol at a specific event (Correct answer)
- Only existing licence holders wanting to sell at an off-site event
- Only those who hold a current manager's certificate
Correct answer: Any person or organisation seeking to sell alcohol at a specific event
Any person or organisation — including businesses, clubs, and individuals — can apply for a special licence for a specific event.
The Act allows a wide range of applicants to seek special licences, including private individuals hosting fundraising events, businesses wanting to sell at a market, and community organisations. However, applicants must still satisfy the DLC that they are suitable, that the event is appropriate, and that alcohol will be sold and supplied responsibly. The DLC can impose conditions appropriate to the event.
Question 3: In NZ, how far in advance should a special licence application typically be lodged before an event?
- At least 2 days before the event
- At least 20 working days before the event (Correct answer)
- At least 1 day before the event — same-day applications are accepted
- At least 3 months before the event
Correct answer: At least 20 working days before the event
Special licence applications should be lodged at least 20 working days before the event to allow the DLC to process and determine the application in time.
While the Act does not set an absolute minimum period for special licence applications, the 20-working-day guideline mirrors the renewal application standard and reflects the time needed for the DLC to process the application, notify the Police and other agencies, and hold a hearing if necessary. Late applications risk not being determined before the event, leaving the applicant unable to legally sell alcohol.
Question 4: Under NZ law, can a special licence authorise alcohol consumption by the general public at a private event?
- No — special licences are only for members of a club
- Yes — special licences can permit sale and supply to the public depending on the conditions imposed by the DLC (Correct answer)
- Only if the event has fewer than 100 attendees
- Only if the event is a charity fundraiser
Correct answer: Yes — special licences can permit sale and supply to the public depending on the conditions imposed by the DLC
Special licences can authorise the sale and supply of alcohol to the general public at events, subject to the conditions imposed by the DLC.
Unlike club licences, which restrict supply to members and their guests, special licences can be structured to permit sales to any person attending the event. The DLC will impose conditions appropriate to the event and its likely attendees, such as requirements about security staffing, ID checking, maximum patron numbers, and trading hours.
Question 5: In NZ, must a special licence event have a certified duty manager present when alcohol is being served?
- No — a trained volunteer is sufficient for community events
- Yes — a certified duty manager must be appointed and present whenever alcohol is sold or supplied under a special licence (Correct answer)
- Only if more than 200 people are expected at the event
- Only if the event runs past midnight
Correct answer: Yes — a certified duty manager must be appointed and present whenever alcohol is sold or supplied under a special licence
Whenever alcohol is sold or supplied under any licence (including a special licence), a certified duty manager must be present and responsible.
The Act's requirement that a certified duty manager be on duty whenever alcohol is sold or supplied applies to special licences just as it does to permanent licences. The applicant for a special licence must ensure they have at least one holder of a current manager's certificate available to be on duty during the event. The DLC will check this as part of the application assessment.
Question 6: Under NZ law, what conditions might the DLC impose on a special licence for a large public festival?
- DLC conditions are standardised and the same for all special licences
- Variable conditions tailored to the event, such as requirements for security personnel, no-glass policies, identification checking, and specific trading hours (Correct answer)
- Only a curfew time for alcohol service — no other conditions are possible
- Conditions are set by Police, not the DLC
Correct answer: Variable conditions tailored to the event, such as requirements for security personnel, no-glass policies, identification checking, and specific trading hours
The DLC can impose any conditions it considers appropriate for the event, tailored to its scale, nature, and risk profile — including security, no-glass requirements, patron numbers, ID checking, and trading hours.
The DLC has broad power to impose any conditions it considers necessary or desirable to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm at the event. For a large public festival this might include: requiring licensed security staff, banning glass containers in favour of plastic cups, requiring food to be available, specifying last drink times, imposing strict patron capacity limits, and requiring prominent age-checking procedures. These conditions become part of the special licence and must be complied with.
LCQ Special Licences and Events 1
Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, what is a special licence in NZ?