Types of events include but are not limited to private functions (birthdays and weddings), festivals, sporting events, bus trips, farmers’ markets, and wine tastings.

The purpose of the special licence is to ensure any potential for alcohol related harm at or near the event is identified and mitigated appropriately.

The application process takes a minimum of 20 working days, so if event planners want their special licence before Christmas, they need to have their application in by 20 November.

Council Environmental Services Manager Billy Charlton says getting your application for any kind of alcohol licence to Council within the required timeframe is essential.

"We want to to help you make sure the application process for a special licence for your event runs smoothly.

“We don't want to see anyone breaching the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 by selling or supplying alcohol without the required licences and being faced with potential fines. The application process is easy and Council staff are on hand to walk you through it. So, it's a smart move to get onto this early."

To host an event where you're selling and supplying alcohol without a required special licence you risk a fine of up to $40,000 and imprisonment.

Here are a few things that you need to know before applying:

• A special licence takes 20 working days (approx. one full month) to process.
• To get your licence sorted for Christmas week you will need to submit a complete application and pay the associated fees before 20 November 2025.
• There are no working days between 20 December and 15 January. This means that applications are not processed during this time.
• This also means that special licence events up to 6 February 2026 will be affected, so it would pay to think about any events after the Christmas period.
• Applications received less than 20 days before the event are unlikely to be considered unless there are genuine unforeseen reasons.

View the application process and apply for your special alcohol licence.