Your time is precious to us, so we’ve given you all the basic answers you want to know below –  the When, Who, Which, How and What.  Easy to understand and quick to read.

You will have questions, so please Contact Us and we’ll be glad to help.  Join many other satisfied members and clients.  

The 3 Important Stages of a Liquor Licence Transfer :

• BEFORE :   A Liquor Licence Compliance Audit must be done to ensure the licence documents and licensed premises complies                      to the Liquor Act.  If you don’t, there is a risk that the liquor licence may be invalid. 
• DURING :   The process must be managed in a professional way to ensure  approval of the licence transfer applications without                     delay;
• AFTER    :   The licence holder must ensure the liquor licence remains valid, by renewing the liquor licence each year.

When must a liquor licence be transferred?

 A liquor licence must be transferred when the licensed business is –

• Sold, or
• Donated, or
• Inherited  

Who must transfer a liquor licence?

 Any of the following persons must transfer the liquor licence:

• the owner (after selling or donating it), or
• the executor (after the death of the licence holder), or
• the sheriff (following a court order)

NB - The new licence holder must also sign the transfer application documents.

Which applications need to be submitted to transfer a liquor licence?

 3 applications are usually required to transfer a liquor licence :

• A.        Application to transfer the liquor licence, and
• B.        Application to allow the new licence holder to carry on selling liquor while waiting for approval of the transfer application (A)
• C.        Application to appoint a Manager to enforce the liquor licence conditions.

How must a liquor licence be transferred?

The process of transferring a liquor licence is as follows :

• Complete the prescribed, formal applications for the transfer of a liquor licence;
• Draft the required annexures with information which is important and relevant
• Collect the supporting documents specified by the Liquor Act;
• Submit the liquor licence transfer applications to the Liquor Board and Designated Liquor Officer (“DLO”).
• The DLO will submit a report to the Liquor Board within 7 days
• The Liquor Board will approve the licence transfer applications if –
  • All the required documents have been submitted, and
  • It is satisfied that the new licence holder is of good character and:
  • The applicant isn’t  disqualified from holding a liquor licence, ans
  • has completed a prescribed training course

What happens after approval of the application to transfer the liquor licence?

 The Liquor Board will inform the applicant in writing of the approval;

• The applicant has 60 days to pay the fee to the Liquor Board needed to issue the liquor licence
• The new liquor licence will be issued and delivered to the new licence holder on payment of the licence issuing fee.

What should you do while waiting for approval of the application to transfer a liquor licence? 

You may not sell liquor until approval of the application to transfer the liquor licence.  However, you should apply for approval to sell liquor while you are waiting for the application of the licence transfer application.   The same conditions of the liquor licence will apply to the premises and licensee once the consent has been granted.

The Licence Co (Liquorwise division)

The Licence Co are liquor licence experts, doing this successfully for more than 15 years.  Trust us to ensure that the applications for the transfer of your liquor licence will be handled in a professional way.