Ordinary trading hours under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 include extended trading for New Year’s Eve in relation to certain licences.
It is the decision of the affected licensees as to whether or not they wish to make use of the extended trading hours for New Year’s Eve. However, in making this decision, licensees must consider any relevant licence conditions or related planning permits.
Please visit our Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for licensees for updates on current restrictions.
| The following licences can trade from 11pm on 31 December to 1am on 1 January | The following licences can trade from 11pm on 31 December to 3am on 1 January |
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Licensees wishing to trade later than the hours on New Year’s Eve as described above must lodge an application for a temporary limited licence with the VCGLR. It can take up to eight weeks for the VCGLR to grant applications and venues need to take this into account in their event planning.
In the inner-city municipalities of the City of Melbourne, the City of Yarra, the City of Stonnington and the City of Port Phillip, venues are reminded that there is a late night freeze concerning trade after 1am. The VCGLR will not grant applications to trade past 1am unless the applicant meets certain conditions.
The variation of trading hours described above does not apply to the sale of packaged liquor for off-premises consumption or to any other category of liquor licence.
The VCGLR has the power to restrict trading hours if there are concerns about the risk of alcohol-related harm.
Licensees are obliged to:
We are encouraging you to go beyond the legal requirements and to make a voluntary commitment to introduce a plan aimed at minimising harm on New Year’s Eve.
Possible measures include:
Other options to consider:
