On, Off and Club Licence FAQs

Yes, all on, off, and club licences require a duty manager.

On Licence: a duty manager must be present at all times that alcohol is being sold and consumed on the premises.

Off Licence: a duty manager must be present at all times that alcohol is being sold.

Club Licence: a duty manager must be appointed, however a duty manager is not required to be on duty at all times. We recommend a duty manager is on duty during high risk periods such as after games or sports events.

The holder of an on-licence or club licence must ensure that, at all times when the premises are open for the sale and supply of alcohol, a reasonable range of food is available for sale and consumption on the premises, in portions suitable for a single customer,—

(a) at reasonable prices; and

(b) within a reasonable time of being ordered.

On Licence - Trading hours, licence displayed at principal entrance, duty manager's full name. You will also need to display two signs: one sign indicating that intoxicated will not be served alcohol and the second sign stating that minor a will not be served alcohol; these are conditions on your on licence. A host responsibility policy must also be displayed if it too, is a condition on your on licence. It is also helpful if you display signs that describe alternative forms of transport, to assist people in getting home. It might also help if you display the Managers Register, for the agencies to view.

Club Licence - Exactly the same as an on licence, except the trading hours do not need to be displayed, because clubs are not open to the public, only to members. Also, the licence does not need to be displayed at the principal entrance. It might also help if you display the Managers Register, for the agencies to view.

Off Licence - Trading hours, licence displayed at principal entrance, duty manager's full name. You will also need to display two signs: one sign indicating that intoxicated will not be served alcohol and the second sign stating that minor a will not be served alcohol; these are conditions on your off licence. It might also help if you display the Managers Register, for the agencies to view.

Please Note - Some types of licences, such as a remote sellers off licence, will require less signs to be displayed. Please contact the Alcohol Licensing Inspector for further details.

Unless you are a member of the club in question, or you have been invited in and are accompanied by a club member, then you cannot purchase or consume alcohol in the club.

Some clubs share reciprocal rights with each other, this means if your club shares reciprocal rights with another club, you can visit the other club and purchase and consume alcohol in that club. Please check with your club to see what arrangement it has for reciprocal rights.

Drink up times only apply to hotels and taverns.

A drink up time allows for a period of half an hour (30 minutes) after the closing time for patrons to remain on the premises to finish their drinks.

A licensed area is a single area encompassing the area where alcohol is sold and consumed. Alcohol may only be sold and consumed within this area.

Any application for an on, off, or club licence will ask for a diagram illustrating the licensed area.

As outlined in the Local Alcohol Policy:

Off Licences

7:00am to 9:00pm

On and Club Licences

9:00am to 1:00am the following day

Please see this document for calculating risk based fees.

If you have a new licence, your licence will expire after one year. Renewal (generally) last for up to three years, however this is at the digression of the District Licensing Committee.

Please check the bottom of your licence for your expiry date.

The alcohol.org website has a number of resources regarding this, please see the link below:

https://www.alcohol.org.nz/management-laws/nz-alco...

You will need to notify the Alcohol Regulatory Licensing Agency (ARLA) who will also let the Council know.

Refer to Section 69 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, for prescriptive instructions.

If you wish to reduce your opening hours, you can do this at any time without amending the licence as long your sale of alcohol only occurs within the licensed hours.

Variation - a variation is an application to change something about your licence, such as hours or licensed area. The cost is the same as for a renewal or new application. You may also need a new Certificate of Compliance if your hours are extending. A variation does not change the renewal date.

Renewal - this is the opportune time to change conditions on your licence as there are no extra costs as you are doing it at the time you renew. Please ensure it is clear on your application what you are requesting to change.

Please note, that the hours of trading are restricted by the Local Alcohol Policy.