If your club wants to serve alcohol, you must apply for a liquor licence. This includes having a licensed bar in your clubrooms or hosting events where alcohol is served.

Who issues liquor licences

Your local council is responsible for issuing liquor licences. Each council has slightly different requirements, so contact them directly for advice.

Licensing is governed by the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

Types of licences

You may need one of the following:

• Club licence – for regular alcohol service in clubrooms
• Special licence – for one-off events where alcohol is served

What you must do once licensed

After your club receives a licence, you must:

• renew it every 3 years
• display it clearly on the premises
• have a certified manager onsite
• follow a responsible host policy
• employ bar staff trained in responsible service

Host responsibilities under the law

Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, clubs must:

• not sell alcohol to minors or intoxicated people
• provide food and non-alcoholic drinks
• promote sensible drinking
• display the licence and its conditions prominently

No BYO alcohol allowed

Section 62 of the Act states that clubs must not allow bring-your-own (BYO) alcohol. Only alcohol sold or supplied by the club may be consumed on the premises.

Help and resources

To help your club meet its legal obligations, use these resources: https://www.alcohol.org.nz/resources-research/alcohol-resources/clubs-toolkit – includes templates and checklists

https://sportnz.org.nz/legal-considerations-for-clubs (placeholder link – confirm final URL)

Get legal advice

We recommend seeking legal advice before applying for a licence or hosting events with alcohol.