Liquor licences and wholesaler registration

Liquor licence types

If you want to apply for a liquor licence, you must work out what type of liquor licence authority you need. Liquor authorities set the rules and conditions of a liquor licence.

There are different types to choose from depending on your business type and the activities you want to run. You may need to apply for more than one authority.

Example

If you want to run a pub and trade late at night, you would apply for the following two authorities:

  • public bar
  • late night.

Common types of licences

Licence authorityExample of when it may be needed
RestaurantRestaurant or cafe selling alcohol with food.
Restaurant barRestaurant selling alcohol without food being purchased.
Bring your own (BYO)Restaurant that lets customers bring their own alcohol to have with a meal.
Small barBar that fits 100 people or less and serves light meals like sandwiches, pies or finger food.
Public barPub with lunch and dinner meals.
LodgingAccommodation selling alcohol through a minibar or room service.
Wayside innWayside inn selling alcohol to patrons and guests. 
Special event
Wedding, wake or party at either a licensed premises that is outside of normal licensed hours, or a non-licensed location such as a park or community hall.
Major eventLarge festival, concert or other event with more than 1,500 people in the liquor licensed area. For example, V8 Supercars, Bass in the Grass.

All authorities and conditions

Types of authorities, associated conditions and their risk classifications are listed below. The risk classification of your authority goes towards calculating the annual fee you need to pay for your licence.

Restaurant

Risk classification: low

This authority lets you sell alcohol to patrons with food at the premises.

Key conditions include:

  • Standard days and hours of trade are 10am to midnight every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day.
  • Trade on Good Friday and Christmas Day is allowed from 11am to 9pm as long as you only sell alcohol to patrons who buy a full meal during those hours. Full meal means a meal expected to be served at a restaurant that is eaten when seated at a table or bar.
  • Standard hours on New Year’s Eve can be extended from midnight to 2am as long as you notify the Director of Liquor Licensing before 3 December each year.
  • The kitchen must remain open during the hours of operation until 1.5 hours before the licensed premises closes.

Restaurant bar

Risk classification: moderate

You can apply for this authority if you have or are applying for a restaurant authority. It lets you sell alcohol to patrons with or without food at the premises.

Key conditions include:

  • A patron does not have to buy a meal to buy alcohol.
  • Standard days and hours of trade are 10am to midnight every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day.
  • Trade on Good Friday and Christmas Day is allowed from 11am to 9pm as long as you only sell alcohol to patrons who buy a full meal during those hours.
  • Standard hours on New Year’s Eve can be extended from midnight to 2am as long as you notify the Director of Liquor of Licensing before 3 December each year.
  • The kitchen must remain open during the hours of operation until 1.5 hours before the licensed premises closes.
  • The licensed premises must look like a restaurant.

Bring your own (BYO)

Risk classification: very low

This authority allows you to serve alcohol brought by a patron to have with their meal at your restaurant or cafe.

If you run a BYO restaurant, you will need to apply for a liquor licence by 1 June 2021 to be able to trade past 1 October 2021.

Risk classification: very high

A takeaway authority allows you to sell alcohol to customers who will drink it away from the licensed premises.

Only existing takeaway liquor outlets will be able to operate under this authority. No further takeaway licences will be considered until at least 31 August 2024.

Wine must not be sold in a cask or box larger than 2L. Beer must not be sold in glass bottles larger than 750ml.

There are other key conditions to include with takeaway authorities for locations listed below.

Alice Springs

Standard days and hours of trade are:

  • Monday to Friday 2pm to 9pm
  • Saturday and public holidays 10am to 9pm
  • where the authority operates with another authority, you are allowed to trade on a Sunday between 10am and 9pm
  • no trading on Good Friday or Christmas Day.

Barkly excluding Elliott / Marlinja

Standard days and hours of trade are:

  • Monday to Saturday 2pm to 8pm
  • no trading on Sunday, Good Friday or Christmas Day.

Darwin

Standard days and hours of trade are:

  • Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm
  • Saturday and public holidays 9am to 10pm
  • where the authority operates with another authority, you are allowed to trade on a Sunday from 10am to 10pm
  • no trading on Good Friday or Christmas Day.

East Arnhem

Standard days and hours of trade are:

  • Monday to Friday 2pm to 8pm
  • Saturday and public holidays 10am to 9pm
  • no trading on Good Friday or Christmas Day.

Elliott / Marlinja

Standard days and hours of trade are:

  • Monday to Saturday 12 noon to 7pm
  • no trading on Sunday, public holidays including Good Friday or Christmas Day.

Katherine

Standard days and hours of trade are:

  • Monday to Friday 2pm to 8pm
  • Saturday and public holidays 12 noon and 8pm
  • where the authority operates with another authority, you are allowed to trade on a Sunday between 12 noon and 8pm
  • no trading on Good Friday or Christmas Day.

Risk classification: very high

A grocery store authority allows you to sell alcohol products to customers who will drink it away from the licensed premises.

The premises must be part of, or attached to, your primary business of selling groceries or other non-liquor items.

No new grocery store authorities will be issued under the Liquor Act 2019.

Lodging

Risk classification: low

This authority lets you sell alcohol to guests staying at your accommodation to drink on or off the premises.

Standard days and hours of operation are:

  • for a minibar – 24 hours a day every day of the year
  • for room service – from 10am to midnight every day of the year.

Alcohol can only be served, sold or supplied to a guest staying at the premises at the minibar or through room service.

Wayside inn

Risk classification: moderate

This authority allows you to sell alcohol to guests staying at your accommodation to drink at the licensed premises.

You can also sell alcohol to patrons who are not guests at the premises.

Key conditions include:

  • Standard days and hours of operation are 7am to midnight every day of the year except Good Friday and Christmas Day.
  • Standard hours may be extended from midnight to 7am every day of the year except Good Friday and Christmas Day if fuel, meals and accommodation are available to buy during those hours.
  • Accommodation must consist of three separate rooms or units, and be able to accommodate at least six patrons.
  • A full meal must be available to buy as follows:
    • breakfast between 7am and 9am
    • lunch between 12 noon and 2pm
    • dinner between 6pm and 8pm.
  • A light meal must be available at all other times the premises is open.

Risk classification: high

You must have a casino licence to apply for this authority.

Risk classification: very low

If you operate tours or provide specialist services, you can apply for this authority.

A special venture authority allows you to sell alcohol to participants as long as it is not the main part of your services.

Key conditions include:

  • standard hours and days of operation are 5:30am to midnight any day that the service is provided
  • alcohol can only be sold to customers who have booked the service.

Club

Risk classification: moderate

A club authority allows you to sell alcohol to members, guests and visitors to drink at the licensed premises.

Key conditions include:

  • Standard days and hours of trade are 10am to midnight every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day.
  • Trade on Good Friday and Christmas Day is allowed from 11am to 9pm as long as you only sell alcohol to patrons buying a full meal during those hours.
  • Standard hours on New Year’s Eve can be extended from midnight to 2am as long as you notify the Director of Liquor Licensing before 3 December each year.
  • Trade on Anzac Day for a licence authorised by the Returned Services Leagues (RSL) is allowed between 4:30am and 10am as long as you give 28 days’ notice.
  • Alcohol can only be sold to members or guests.
  • A light meal must be available at least five days a week from 12pm to 2 pm and from 6pm to 8pm.
  • If you also hold a takeaway authority, you can only sell alcohol under that authority to a club member.
  • There is no restriction on the total annual volume of alcohol that may be sold.

Community club

Risk classification: very low

A community club authority allows you to sell alcohol to members, guests and visitors to drink at the licensed premises.

The standard hours and days of trade and conditions of a community club authority are tailored to meet your needs as the licensee.

A limit applies to the total annual volume of alcohol that may be sold.

Catering

Risk classification: low

A catering authority allows you to sell, supply or serve alcohol to patrons as part of catering services for functions such as:

  • corporate events
  • cocktail parties
  • dinners

You must get permission to sell or serve alcohol from the owner or occupier of the premises.

Key conditions include:

  • standard hours and days of trade are 11:30am to midnight
  • alcohol may only be sold, supplied or served to patrons who are consuming food from the licensee.

Major event

Risk classification: high

This authority allows you to sell alcohol to patrons attending a single event that is expected to:

  • have at least 1,500 attendees or
  • have a significant effect on public transport or local services or
  • require more than a usual amount of emergency services or police supervision.

Key conditions include:

  • security at the event must include at least two licensed crowd controllers for the first 100 patrons and one additional licensed crowd controller for each additional 100 patrons
  • all alcohol sold must be in open containers and no more than four containers may be sold to one person at a time.

Community event

Risk classification: very low

This authority allows you to sell alcohol to patrons at events that are organised on a regular but infrequent basis.

You must notify the Director at least 14 business days before the event.

Special event

Risk classification: very low

This authority allows you to sell alcohol to patrons attending a single event that expects to have less than 1,500 attendees.

Producer

Risk classification: low

If you produce liquor products, this authority allows you to sell your products to the public at the place of manufacture, to drink on or off the premises.

Key conditions include:

  • standard hours and days of operation are 10am to 10pm every day of the year except Good Friday and Christmas Day
  • a light meal must be available to patrons during the hours of operation.

Small bar

Risk classification: moderate

A small bar authority lets you sell alcohol on or in a licensed premises with a maximum capacity of 100 patrons.

Key conditions include:

  • Standard days and hours of trade are 10am to midnight every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day.
  • Trade on Good Friday and Christmas Day is allowed from 11am to 9pm as long as you only sell alcohol to patrons who buy a full meal during those hours.
  • Standard hours on New Year’s Eve can be extended from midnight to 2am as long as you notify the Director of Liquor Licensing before 3 December each year.
  • Light meals be available during operating hours. Light meal means a meal that may be eaten with the hands while standing. For example, finger food, canapĂ© style plates, sandwiches, pies and tapas.

Public bar

Risk classification: high

A public bar authority allows you to sell alcohol to patrons who will drink it at the licensed premises.

Key conditions include:

  • Standard days and hours of trade re 10am to midnight every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day.
  • Trade on Good Friday and Christmas Day is allowed from 11am to 9pm as long as you only sell alcohol to patrons who buy a full meal during those hours.
  • Standard hours on New year’s Eve can be extended from midnight to 2am as long as you notify the Director of Liquor Licensing before 3 December each year.
  • The premises much have camera surveillance.
  • A full meal must be available for purchase at least five days a week between the following times:
    • 12 noon and 2pm and
    • 6am and 8pm.
  • A light meal must be available at all other times.

Late night

Risk classification: very high

You can only apply for this authority if you already have or are applying for:

  • a small bar authority or
  • a public bar authority.

A late night authority allows you to sell alcohol to patrons who will drink at the licensed premises from midnight to 2am.

An extended late night authority will allow you to sell alcohol to patrons who will drink at the licensed premises from midnight to 4am.

A lockout applies to an extended late night authority – patrons are not allowed to enter after 3am.

The hours can be extended by one hour on New Year’s Day if written notice is given to the Director before 3 December.

Key conditions include:

  • no serving of free drinks
  • crowd controller security must be provided
  • video surveillance must be provided
  • live entertainment must be provided for patrons after 2am.

You can only apply for this authority if you have or are applying for a public bar authority.

It lets you host adult-themed entertainment or services on your premises.

There are three types of authorities that may apply.

Adult entertainment

This allows staff to work topless or in lingerie.

It does not allow for genitals to be on display, whether deliberate or by accident. This includes the anus, vulva, vagina, penis or scrotum.

Adult entertainment R-rated

This allows you to host the following:

  • general strip shows
  • R-rated entertainment
  • full nudity.

Adult entertainment explicit

This allows you to host the following:

  • general and private strip shows
  • R-rated entertainment
  • full nude staff or entertainers
  • non-sexual contact between entertainers and patrons
  • voluntary audience participation.

Contact

If you have any questions about what licence or authority you need, contact Licensing NT on 08 8999 1800 or email liquorlicensing.ditt@nt.gov.au.


Apply for a liquor licence

You need a liquor licence or be registered to sell or supply alcohol in the Northern Territory (NT).

All new licence applications can be made online. If you are interested in wholesale, find out how to register as a wholesaler of liquor.

Who can apply

You can apply as an individual, partnership or company. You must be able to prove you are a 'fit and proper' person to be a licensee. Read more about who can apply to be an approved licensee.

How long it takes

The time your application takes can depend on its type and complexity.

For a fee, your application can be fast tracked within 30 business days of lodgement. This does not guarantee it will be approved or approved within 30 business days, but it will have a shorter processing time.

If you're applying for a special event licence, it will usually be processed within 4 weeks.

For other types of liquor licences, it can take 4 months to receive a decision on your application. This depends on the time it takes at each below stage. Simpler applications will be processed quicker:

  • assessment - up to 4 weeks - can take longer if you haven't attached all the details needed
  • advertising and objection - up to 8 weeks - time will be reduced if there are no objections to the application
  • Liquor Commission determination - at least 4 weeks - the commission is an independent decision-maker for liquor licence applications.

What you need

Get your required documents together and work out which liquor licence type you need.

You will need to identify at least one nominee. Your nominee is responsible for the day-to-day management of the licensed premises. It's good to have more than one nominee, in case they get sick or change jobs.

Before someone can become a nominee, they must complete a responsible service of alcohol course and understand how to promote alcohol responsibly.

Find out more about the alcohol minimum floor price on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website.

Fees

Your application fee depends on the licence type.

DescriptionRevenue unitsFee
Special and major events17$22
Other liquor licences166$224
Variation/substitution/transfer/material alteration83$112
Fast track application415$560

Pay your application fee when you apply online or at a Territory Business Centre after you submit.

Liquor licence holders must also pay an annual fee based on the risk classification of their licence. Find out how much you might need to pay using the calculator.

How to apply

You can apply online, in person, or by email.

Online

Go to Territory Services

In person or by email

To apply in person or by email, follow these steps.

Step 1. Fill in the relevant application.

Special event licence PDF (279.3 KB)
Special event licence DOCX (89.4 KB)

Major event licence PDF (279.6 KB)
Major event licence DOCX (90.5 KB)

New liquor licence or authority  PDF (265.5 KB)
New liquor licence or authority DOCX (87.7 KB)

Step 2. Attach supporting documents for your licence type including for nominees and executive officers.

Step 3. Submit your application with supporting documents and pay the fee at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

You can also email your application and a receipt of the fee to liquorlicensing.ditt@nt.gov.au.

More information

If you have any questions, contact Licensing NT.

For more information, you can:


Documents for your liquor licence application

You must include certain documents to apply for a liquor licence or to change its conditions or authorities.

Read below to find out what you need to attach with your application.

If you are unsure on what information to include, contact Licensing NT.

What you need

You must include the following documents:

Each nominee and executive officer

All nominees as well as any executive officers who have more than 15% share or voting power must also provide some documents.

If they have:

  • held an NT liquor licence in the past 12 months, they must provide:
  • not held a liquor licence in the past 12 months, they must provide:

Contact

For more information, contact Licensing NT.


Check if you need a liquor licence

You need a liquor licence in most situations where you are selling or supplying alcohol or liquor for a fee.

This includes liquor:

  • supplied as part of an event such as a corporate event or ball
  • sold through your business.

Find out how to apply for a liquor licence. If you are unsure, you should contact Licensing NT.

Activities that don't need a licence

You don't need a liquor licence or registration if you are going to sell, supply or serve alcohol or liquor:

  • as part of a gift basket or floral arrangement that contains one liquor product only
  • supplying to your staff and their families and guests if you are an employer - for example, at a Christmas party for your staff
  • in essences (such as vanilla) in containers of 50ml or less.

Serving free drinks to customers

If you have a business, for example, a hairdresser or a bookshop, and want to give free drinks to customers, you need to register as a complimentary server of liquor first.

You can register for one, five or 10 years by filling in an application and submitting it to Licensing NT. Once your application is approved, you will receive a certificate that shows you are a registered server of complimentary drinks.

This allows you to serve no more than two standard drinks in a day to a customer.

Find out how to register to serve free alcoholic drinks.

Locations that don't need a licence

You don’t need a liquor licence or registration if you are going to sell, supply or serve alcohol:

  • at most Australian Defence Force establishments with the authority of the naval, army or air force authorities
  • within the grounds of the Legislative Assembly on the authority of the Speaker
  • to residents or patients in a retirement village, residential care facility or hospital - if it's no more than two standard drinks per person per day and the body responsible for the village, facility or hospital approves
  • on board some vessels, aircraft or trains.

Register to sell wholesale alcohol

If you want to sell wholesale alcohol in the NT, you must be registered.

Find out how to register as a wholesaler of liquor.


Convert your liquor licence

The Northern Territory Liquor Act is now in effect.

If your licence has not yet been converted under the transitional arrangements of the Act, contact Licensing NT.

If you had a valid liquor licence on 30 September 2019, you can continue to operate under that licence until 1 October 2020.

You must contact Licensing NT if you want to operate beyond this date.

New risk-based licensing fee

The risk classification attached to your licence will determine the fee you have to pay.

This fee comes into effect January 2021.

You can find out how much you might need to pay by using the calculator.

The Director of Liquor Licensing will write to you to tell you how much your annual fee is, before 1 October each year.

Find out more about the alcohol minimum floor price on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website.


Advertise a liquor licence application

If you're applying for a liquor licence, you must advertise your application to the public.

You don't need to advertise for applications with the following authorities:

  • community event
  • special event.

In some cases, you might need to advertise if the Director of Liquor Licensing considers it would be in the public interest.

This includes when you apply to:

  • substitute your premises
  • vary the conditions of your liquor licence
  • make a material alteration.

This must be done before it can be processed.

How to advertise

To advertise your application, you must do all of the following:

  • write the wording for the advert
  • make sure it is clear so a person reading it understands:
    • what you are applying for
    • how you will operate the business.

If your application is complete, the director of Liquor Licensing will contact you after 14 days and confirm:

  • what wording you must use in your advert
  • where it must be published.

You will then have 14 days to advertise your application.

You must advertise details of your proposed application in a local newspaper or another way specified by the director of Liquor Licensing.

This includes the type of liquor licence and any authorities you are applying for.

The advertisement must run for 14 consecutive days.

Licensing officers will help you draft your advert. They will also tell you where to publish it at your own expense.

You must display a sign with an application notice outside of the proposed licensed premises.

The sign must be displayed prominently for 14 consecutive days.

Licensing officers will prepare this sign for you, which you will need to collect and keep on display at all times through the advertising period.

Restrictions apply to advertising liquor licence applications over the Christmas and New Year period.

This rule applies to all applications that need to be publicly advertised.

You must either:

  • finish your 14 consecutive days of advertising before Sunday 17 December 2023 or
  • start your advertising after Monday 8 January 2024.

You do not have to advertise within 14 days of your approved liquor licence application if it breaches Christmas and New Year advertising restrictions.

If this happens, you should advertise as soon as possible after the restriction period.


Liquor licence fees

Application fees for new liquor licence and registration applications are set out in part 3 of the Liquor Regulations 2019.

Application fees are set in revenue units, as defined by the Revenue Units Act 2009.

The value of a revenue unit changes every year in line with Consumer Price Index (CPI). Find out more about revenue units.

The application fees set out below are current from Thursday 1 July 2021 and may be subject to change.

Find out how much you might need to pay by using the calculator or call Licensing NT on 08 8999 1800.

Liquor application fees

DescriptionRevenue unitsFee
Application for a new liquor licence and special event or major event authority 17 $22
Application for a new liquor licence and one or more authorities, other than a special event or major event authority 166 $224
Application to add one or more authorities to an existing liquor licence, other than a special event authority 166 $224
Application to vary a liquor licence 83 $112
Application to substitute a premises for a licensed premises 83 $112
Application for approval of a material alteration to a licensed premises 83 $112
Application to transfer a liquor licence 83 $112
Application for registration as a wholesaler of liquor - for 1 year 17 $22
Application for registration as a wholesaler of liquor application - for 3 years 50 $67
Application for registration as a wholesaler of liquor application - for 5 years 83$112
Application to register as a complimentary server of liquor  -Free

You can pay a higher fee, currently $527, to increase the likelihood of a decision being made about your application within 30 days of it being accepted by Licensing NT.

However, paying the higher fee does not guarantee that a decision will made in that timeframe.

For some applications, such as new licences or authorities, and major event applications, it is not possible for a decision to be made within 30 days. This is because of advertising and other requirements.

For more information, call Licensing NT on 08 8999 1800 or email liquorlicensing.ditt@nt.gov.au.


Transfer a liquor licence

If you hold a liquor licence in the Northern Territory (NT), you can transfer your licence to either:

  • an individual
  • a partnership
  • a company.

Before applying, you need to arrange a police history check for the person or people you are transferring the licence to, including any nominees.

Certificates are issued by SafeNT and can sometimes take weeks to process.

Liquor licence holders must also pay an annual fee based on the risk classification of their licence. Find out how much you might need to pay using the calculator.

Read about the alcohol minimum floor price on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website.

To transfer a liquor licence, you must apply as if you are requesting a new licence.

Follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application to transfer a liquor licence.

Application to transfer a liquor licence PDF (848.4 KB)
Application to transfer a liquor licence DOCX (73.5 KB)

Step 2. Attach the name and fingerprint certificate to your application.

Step 3. Submit your application with all supporting documents and pay the fee at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

You can also email it and a copy of the receipt fee to liquorlicensing.ditt@nt.gov.au.

If your application does not have all of the supporting information, it will be returned to you.

Check what supporting documents you will need

Read the application to find out what supporting documents you will need.

You must include these with your application.

If you don't, your application may be returned to you as incomplete.

Licensing NT may also ask for additional documents. They will tell you.

Types of documents

Below are the types of supporting documents you may need to have ready to provide:

  • national police certificate name and fingerprint also known as a criminal history
  • affidavit - read documents for your liquor licence application
  • transfer application receipt
  • detailed site or floor plans of the proposed material operations or changes to the licenced area
  • lease title or contract to occupy and continue operations of a liquor licence on the premises
  • business name and food business certificate of registration
  • if applying on behalf of a club:
    • club incorporation certificates
    • general meeting minutes and
    • constitutions

Can also include the following

Responsible service of alcohol (RSA)

Provide nationally accredited RSA certificate. If your certificate is more than three years old, you will need to provide a refresher certificate. Go to Hospitality NT website for training courses.

Financial stability

Evidence of financial stability to be established along with fit and proper assessments as required by Licensing in the application for:

  • business
  • individual
  • licencee and nominees.

Find out more about licence nominees and executive officers under 'all other applications'.

Australian Investment Securities Commission (ASIC) extract

Get a full extract for companies listing:

  • directors
  • shareholders
  • members, and
  • any other linked proposed licensed premises or company extracts.

If your application is complete, Licensing NT will assess it.

The assessment will include providing local authorities like NT Police an opportunity to comment.

The Liquor Commission will review your application and issue a decision notice.

If it is approved, a certificate of transfer will be issued to the new licence holder.


Change or vary liquor licence conditions or authority

If you hold a liquor licence in the Northern Territory (NT), you can apply to change the conditions or authorities attached to it.

You should apply at least 3 months in advance to avoid any delays with your application.

For example, you may need to advertise your application or have it referred to the Liquor Commission for a public hearing before a decision can be made.

Find out more about the alcohol minimum floor price on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website.

Change or add authority

If you want to change or add an authority (licence type), you must apply for a new liquor licence.

Vary conditions

To apply to vary your liquor licence conditions, follow these steps.

Step 1. Fill in an application to vary a liquor licence.

Application to vary a liquor licence PDF (824.9 KB)
Application to vary a liquor licence DOCX (71.1 KB)

Step 2. Submit your application with all supporting documents and pay the fee at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

You can also email it and a copy of the receipt fee to liquorlicensing.ditt@nt.gov.au.

After you apply

If your application is complete, Licensing NT will assess it and tell you if you need to advertise your application.

This involves displaying a notice outside your venue. It may also involve publishing a notice in a newspaper.

If you need to advertise your application, you will be notified within 14 days of your application being accepted.

Local authorities like NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and the Department of Health will be notified of your application and will give feedback.

Once the advertising period is over, the Liquor Commission will review your application and issue a decision notice.

Contact

For more information, contact Licensing NT.


Change a liquor licence nominee

All licensed premises in the Northern Territory (NT) must have a manager who is responsible for upholding the premises' liquor licence.

If the manager is away for at least 7 days, the licensee must appoint an acting nominee to take responsibility for the conduct of the licence.

Read below to find out how to change the manager, also known as the nominee, or appoint an acting nominee of a liquor licence.

Before you apply

The new nominee, or acting nominee must do all of the following:

How to change or add nominee

To apply change or add a nominee, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application to change/add a nominee of a liquor licence.

Application to change/add a nominee of a liquor licence PDF (941.3 KB)
Application to change/add a nominee of a liquor licence DOCX (699.9 KB)

Step 2. Get a police history check.

Step 3. Submit your form online or at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

How to appoint an acting nominee

To appoint an acting nominee, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the appoint an acting liquor licensee form.

Appoint an acting liquor licensee PDF (701.4 KB)
Appoint an acting liquor licensee DOCX (67.4 KB)

Step 2. Submit your form and a copy of the manager's RSA certificate by email or in person.

Read how to appoint an acting liquor licensee.

By email

Email to territorybusinesscentre@nt.gov.au or liquorlicensing.ditt@nt.gov.au.

In person

Submit at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

Contact

For more information or help, contact Licensing NT by calling 08 8999 1800.


Register as a wholesaler of liquor

If you want to sell wholesale liquor in the Northern Territory (NT), you must be registered.

You are only allowed to sell wholesale liquor to a person in the Territory who holds a liquor licence.

For example, selling bulk wine from your winery to a hotel for them to sell their patrons.

You must also provide quarterly returns showing the amount of alcohol sold to licensed premises.

Liquor licence holders must also pay an annual fee based on the risk classification of their licence. Find out how much you might need to pay using the calculator.

Find out more about the alcohol minimum floor price on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website.

You can apply to register for:

  • 1 year
  • 3 years
  • 5 years.

Your registration will expire on the anniversary of the date it was issued.

To register as a liquor wholesaler follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the register as a liquor wholesaler form.

Register as a liquor wholesaler form  PDF (829.2 KB)
Register as a liquor wholesaler form DOCX (67.8 KB)

Step 2. Submit your application with all supporting information and pay the fee at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

If you don't include all supporting information, your application will be returned.

You need to renew your registration before it expires.

How to renew

To apply to renew a liquor wholesaler registration, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the renew a liquor wholesaler registration form.

Renew a liquor wholesaler registration form PDF (948.9 KB)
Renew a liquor wholesaler registration form DOCX (697.9 KB)

Step 2. Submit your form and pay the fee at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

You must submit quarterly returns to the Northern Territory Government.

These reports must show how much alcohol you have supplied to licensed premises, including:

  • cask wine
  • bottled wine
  • fortified wine
  • cider
  • standard spirits
  • pre-mixed spirits
  • beer - all strengths.

You must submit a quarterly return even if you make no liquor sales for the quarter.

Returns are due 28 days after the last day of the preceding quarter. Quarters end on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December in any year.

How to submit

To submit your quarterly liquor return, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in a quarterly liquor returns template XLSX (662.0 KB).

Step 2. Check the list of NT licenced premises for the wholesaler details and add to the form.

Step 3. Email the form to licntwholesalerreturns.agd@nt.gov.au.

Don't change the template.


Sell retail alcohol from interstate to the NT

Under the NT Liquor Act 2019, you must have an interstate retailer's licence to sell liquor from a place outside the Northern Territory (NT) for delivery to a person or location in the NT.

All interstate retailers must comply with section 44 of the Act and the minimum sale price for liquor products.

Liquor licence holders must also pay an annual fee based on the risk classification of their licence. Find out how much you might need to pay using the calculator.

Read about the alcohol minimum floor price on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website.

To be eligible for an interstate retailer's licence, you must:

  • be a retailer authorised under a law of a state or another territory to sell liquor
  • not hold any other licence under the NT Liquor Act 2019 and
  • not operate licensed premises in the NT.

To apply for an interstate retailer's licence, fill in the online form and attach a copy of the state or other territory authorisation under which you sell liquor.

It is free to apply.

The table below lists all interstate liquor retailers.

Registration number Company business name State
1 Stanton & Killeen Wines Pty Ltd VIC
2 Australian Wine Selectors Pty Ltd NSW
3 Wirra Wirra Vineyards SA
4 Ashton Hills Vineyards SA
5 Paxton Wines Pty Ltd SA
6 Fermoy Estate WA
7 Hugo Wines Pty Ltd SA
8 Warrabilla Wines Pty Ltd VIC
9 Stella Bella Wines Pty Ltd WA
10 Tahbilk Pty Ltd VIC
11 RUSDEN WINES PTY LTD SA
12 Pfeiffer Wines VIC
13 Taylors Wines Pty Ltd SA
14 Symphony Hill Wines Pty Ltd QLD
15 GWD OPERATIONS PTY LTD VIC
16 Critttenden Estate Pty VIC
17 Bream Creek Vineyard Pty Ltd TAS
18 Voyager Estate WA
19 G Patritti & Co Pty Ltd SA
20 Wine Gallery Pty Ltd NSW
21 Tyrrell's Vineyards Pty Ltd NSW
22 Midlink Pty Ltd WA
23 Pernod Ricard Winemakers Pty Ltd SA
24 Ross Hill Wine Group NSW
25 Kowald Dunn Pty Ltd t/a Murray Street Vineyards SA
26 Accolade Wines Australia Limited SA
27 Brown Brothers Milawa Vineyard Pty Limited VIC
28 Grocery Holdings Pty Ltd SA
30 The Whisky Club Company Pty Ltd TAS
29 Charles Reuben Estate TAS
31 Whisky Tasmania Pty Ltd t/a Hellyers Road Distillery TAS
32 Accolade Wines Australia t/a Bay of Fires Wines TAS
33 Balnaves of Coonawarra SA
34 Winemarket Pty Ltd NSW
35 Treasury Wine Estates Vintners Limited SA
36 CUB PTY LTD VIC
37 Pirate Cartel Distribution Pty Ltd SA
38 Pirate Life Brewing Pty Ltd SA
39 Kalleske SA
40 Quill Australia Pty Ltd TAS
41 GRAYS (NSW) PTY LTD t/a GRAYSONLINE NSW
42 Vinomofo Pty Ltd VIC
43 Island Artisan PTY LTD TAS
44 Cellarmaster Wines NSW
45 Langton's Brokerage Pty Ltd NSW
46 Dan Murphy's NSW
47 Seppeltsfield SA
48 Liquoroo Australia PTY LTD NSW
49 Leeuwin Estate WA
50 919 Wines SA
51 Sullivans Cove Distillery TAS
52 Hellfire Bluff Distillery TAS
54 Roje Estates Pty Ltd WA
55 Lambert Estate Wines SA
56 Puddleduck Vineyard Pty Ltd TAS
57 Logan Wines Pty Ltd NSW
58 Katnook Estate / Wingara Wine Group SA
59 Heathvale Wines SA
60 Criterion Hotel Rochester VIC
61 1847 Winery Pty Ltd SA
62 Chapel Hill Winery Pty Ltd SA
63 Coriole Vineyards SA
64 Simon Lang Wines Pty Limited SA
65 Two Hands Wines Pty Ltd SA
66 Stephen Pannell Wines Pty Ltd SA
67 United Cellars Pty Ltd NSW
68 LOBO Juice and Cider Pty Ltd SA
69 The Islander Estate Vineyards SA
70 BASEDOW'S PTY LTD SA
71 Clackers Wine Co Pty Ltd t/a XO Wine Co SA
72 Winelistaustralia SA
73 Pocko Pty Ltd SA
74 4 Pines Brewing Company Pty Limited NSW
75 4 Pines Brewing Company Pty Limited NSW
76 The Odd Whisky Coy Pty Ltd SA
77 Mr Vino Pty Ltd t/a Plonkers Wines SA
78 Nicks Wine Merchants VIC
79 The Cheese Riot Pty Ltd SA
80 Dudley Wines Pty Ltd SA
81 Jim Barry Wines Pty Ltd SA
82 Pikes Vintners Pty Ltd SA
83 Pikes Beer Pty Ltd SA
84 Pike & Joyce Pty Ltd sa
85 Gaelic Cemetery Wines Pty Ltd SA
86 St Annes Winery NSW
87 SIPPIFY PTY LTD SA
88 Hill River Clare Estate SA
89 Clos Clare Pty Ltd t/a clos Clare SA
90 Haselgrove Vignerons Pty Ltd t/as Nick Haselgrove Wines SA
91 Bremerton Vintners PTY LTD t/a Bremerton Wines SA
92 Chambers Rosewood Pty Ltd VIC
93 Mollydooker Wines Pty Ltd ATF the Marquis Family Trust SA
94 Viottolo Pty Ltd t/a Alpha Box & Dice SA
95 Baileys of Glenrowan (Casella Family Brands) VIC
96 Adelina Wines SA
97 Shingleback Wine Pty Ltd SA
98 Australian Distilling Co. Pty Ltd SA
99 Petersham Liquor Mart NSW
100 WOODSTOCK WINE ESTATE SA
101 Flinders island Distillery TAS
102 Angove's Pty Ltd SA
103 Wicks Estate Wines PTY LTD SA
104 Empire Liquor Pty Ltd SA
105 Howard Park Wines Pty Ltd WA
106 Spier Family Wines SA
107 Josef Chromy Wines Pty Ltd TAS
108 Vineyard 28 WA
109 DA Catlin Wines Pty Ltd SA
110 Arisiag Road Wines SA
111 Medhurst Wines Pty Ltd VIC
112 Jackalope Mornington Peninsula VIC
113 Kemenys Food & Liquor Pty Limited NSW
114 Skye Cellars SA
115 Flametree Wines WA
116 BALLYMOSS PTY LTD VIC
117 Ballycroft Vineyard and Cellars SA
118 BIG RIVER DISTILLING CO. PTY LTD ACT
119 AUSTRALIAN CELLAR DOOR PTY LTD VIC
120 Rose Traders Co SA
121 Damn Good Whisky SA
122 Hahndorf Hill Winery Pty Ltd SA
123 Organic Wine Pty Ltd VIC
124 Bleasdale Vineyards Pty Ltd SA
125 Mark's Vineyard Pty Ltd QLD
126 Bundaberg Distilling Company Pty. Limited QLD
127 Mundawora Vintners Pty Ltd SA
128 BOWEN ESTATE SA
129 Happenstance Distillery SA
130 Seppeltsfield Road Distillers Pty Ltd SA
131 The Farmer's Wife Distillery NSW
132 Wine Direct Pty Ltd SA
133 Makersvine SA
134 Andrew Miller Wines Pty Ltd SA
135 Lights View Wines SA
136 Hollick Estates Pty Ltd SA
137 Dogridge Wine Company Pty Ltd SA
138 Whistler Wines Pty Ltd SA
139 Old Kempton Distillery Pty Ltd TAS
140 Izway Wines Pty Ltd SA
141 Australian Yinmore Wines Pty Ltd SA
142 Printhie Wines NSW
143 Hurdle Creek Still PTY LTD VIC
144 Squitch Lane Vineyards VIC
145 Son of Dot Drinks Pty Ltd SA
146 Rochford Wines International Pty Ltd VIC
147 Jimmyrum Pty Ltd VIC
148 Purple Hands Wines Pty Ltd SA
149 Amazed Pty Ltd SA
150 Bombak Distillery Pty Ltd WA
151 Pieroth Wines Pty Ltd NSW
152 Castle Glen Liqueurs Australia Pty Ltd QLD
153 Showbar 140 Pty Ltd QLD
154 Ambleside Distillers Pty Ltd SA


Register to serve free alcoholic drinks

If you have a business in the Northern Territory and want to give free drinks to customers, you must register as a complimentary server of liquor.

This registration allows you to serve no more than two complimentary standard drinks in a day to a customer.

Who can register

You can only register if:

  • you don't have a liquor licence or
  • selling food or drinks is not the main part of your business.

For example, if you run an art gallery and want to serve alcohol at the opening of an exhibition.

Registration period

You can register for:

  • one year
  • 5 years
  • 10 years.

To renew, you will need to apply for a new registration.

How to apply

To apply, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application to register your business as a complimentary server of liquor form.

Application to register your business as a complimentary server of liquor PDF (820.5 KB)
Application to register your business as a complimentary server of liquor DOCX (695.7 KB)

Step 2. Email your form to liquorlicensing.ditt@nt.gov.au.

It is free to register as a complimentary server of liquor - there are no fees.

After you apply

Your application will be assessed and you will be advised of the outcome.

If your application is approved, you will receive a certificate that allows you to serve no more than two complimentary standard drinks to a customer in a day.


Declare your associates

If you are applying for a liquor licence, you must include information about anyone who is an associate.

You must complete this process if you are:

  • an individual
  • a body corporate
  • a partnership.

Use the following template:

Declaration of associates PDF (726.2 KB)
Declaration of associates DOCX (80.1 KB).

Under the Liquor Act 2019, an associate of a person is:

a) the person’s spouse or defacto partner;

c) a business partner of the person;

d) a body corporate of which the person is an executive officer;

e) if the person is a body corporate:

(i) an executive officer of the body corporate; and

(ii) a person who holds a controlling interest in the body corporate;

f) a person who, within the 12 months before the application, provided advice to the person, for a fee or reward, in relation to the sale of liquor;

g) an employer of the person;

h) an officer of a body corporate of which the person is an officer;

j) a body corporate that is accustomed or under an obligation to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of the person,

k) a body corporate on whose directions, instructions or wishes the person is accustomed or under an obligation to act;

l) a body corporate in which the person holds a controlling interest;

m) a person disclosed in an affidavit made by the person under section 54;

n) a person who is an associate of a person referred to in paragraphs (a) to (m).

For the purposes of this definition:

  • a body corporate is taken to be accustomed or under an obligation if its executive officers are accustomed or under an obligation, whether formally or informally and
  • a person is taken to hold a controlling interest in a body corporate if that person, alone or together with one or more associates of that person, is in a position to control at least 15% of the voting power in the body corporate or holds interests in at least 15% of the issued shares in the body corporate.

A body corporate is an organisation which has a separate legal status to its members. This means it can own property, sue and be sued, and enter into contracts in its own name.

Examples of body corporates include:

  • companies
  • incorporated associations
  • incorporated partnership
  • municipal councils
  • cooperatives.

Unincorporated clubs or associations and unincorporated partnerships are not body corporates.

The director of a body corporate includes:

  • any person occupying or acting in the position of director of the body corporate, by whatever name they are called (including partner, office holder, chief executive officer, executive committee member) and whether or not they were validly appointed to occupy or duly authorised to act in the positions and
  • any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the body corporate are instructed to act.

Who should be declared as an associate

Examples of people who may be declared as associates include:

  • director
  • public officer
  • secretary
  • chief executive
  • chief financial officer
  • committee member of a body corporate.

Shareholders who are able to exercise a significant influence over or with respect to management or operation of any business of the applicant / director of the body corporate involving the supply, sale or consumption of liquor.


Apply to be an approved licensee

If you want to work in the liquor industry, you must be able to show you are a ‘fit and proper person’.

The Liquor Commission assesses this under the NT Liquor Act 2019 for all liquor licence applications.

How to qualify as a fit and proper person

To qualify as a fit and proper person, you must prove you are responsible and have the right skills and knowledge to run your business.

When deciding if you are a fit and proper person, the commission will consider:

  • your general character
  • your reputation
  • how you conduct yourself personally and professionally.

Other rules and requirements

You must also provide information in your application about anyone who will have a significant role or influence over the business.

This includes information about whether or not you, your business partners or your proposed managers or nominees:

  • understand your responsibilities as a liquor licence or permit holder 
    • particularly the type of licence or permit you are applying for
  • have ever been declared bankrupt or had action taken against you under bankruptcy laws
  • have ever breached liquor laws
  • have ever been arrested, or summonsed, charged or convicted of an offence
  • have satisfactory criminal history and referee checks
  • can demonstrate a responsible attitude to managing and carrying out your financial responsibilities.

How to make a complaint about a licensee that sells, supplies or serves liquor

All Northern Territory (NT) liquor licensees must comply with the Liquor Act 2019 and their licensing conditions.

When you can make a complaint

You can make a complaint about a licensee in the following circumstances:

  • They broke a condition of their licence or authority (eg. by selling liquor outside of their trading hours).
  • The licensee or one of their employees breached the Liquor Act 2019 or regulations (eg. by serving liquor to a child).
  • The licensee or one of their employees breached another NT law that regulates the:
  • The licensee, or if the licensee is a body corporate, an executive officer of the body corporate, is convicted of an offence against NT law that is punishable by imprisonment for 5 years or more.
  • The licensee contravened a provision of an enforceable undertaking.
  • The licensee disobeyed a direction given under the Liquor Act 2019 (eg. they ignored a direction from the Director of Liquor Licensing saying that shots can’t be sold after 10pm).
  • The licensee has stopped using their licensed premises for the sale, supply, service or consumption of liquor (eg. a pub that has closed down).
  • Their licensed premises is no longer being used for the sale, supply, service or consumption of liquor in compliance with the licence and authority (eg. a licensee who is breaching their licence conditions, or has a restaurant liquor authority but trades as a nightclub).
  • The licensee is not a fit and proper person to hold the licence.
  • A nominee or employee of the licensee is not a fit and proper person and the licensee should reasonably know that.
  • The licensee got their liquor licence by fraud or misrepresentation.
  • The licensee holds the licence for the benefit of another person who would not have been issued a licence.
  • The licensed premises were used in a way that caused:
    • disorderly conduct on or in the premises or the vicinity of the premises or
    • annoyance or disturbance to people living, working or running a business in the vicinity of the premises (eg. noise complaints).

Complaints not handled by Licensing NT

Licensing NT doesn’t handle complaints about unsatisfactory products or services (unless it relates to adulterated liquor).

You should first try resolving the issue with the licensee and if unsuccessful, call NT Consumer Affairs on 1800 019 319 or go to the Consumer Affairs website.

Criminal activity is also outside of our authority within the Liquor Act 2019, call NT Police on 131 444.

To make a complaint about the Banned Drinker Register (BDR), call 1800 237 226.

For information about other complaints, go to the Ombudsman NT website.

How to make a complaint

Before making a complaint with Licensing NT, try contacting the licensee to resolve the issue.

If you can’t resolve the complaint, are unable to contact them or feel uncomfortable approaching them, you can submit a complaint.

To lodge a complaint, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the liquor complaint form and choose if you want to be anonymous.

If you choose to be anonymous, you will not be contacted about the progress or outcome.

Liquor complaint PDF (698.4 KB)
Liquor complaint DOCX (69.4 KB)

Step 2. Submit your application by email, mail or in person.

By email or mail

Licensing NT
GPO Box 1154
Darwin NT 0801
directorliquorlicensing.ditt@nt.gov.au

In person

Go to your nearest Licensing NT office or a Territory Business Centre.

For more information, contact Licensing NT.

After you make a complaint

The Director of Liquor Licensing will decide whether to accept or refuse your complaint and notify you in writing within 14 days of your complaint being lodged with Licensing NT.

If your complaint is accepted

If your complaint is accepted, Licensing NT will investigate it.

They will notify the licensee and give them an opportunity to respond in writing.

The investigation will take up to 90 days from the date that it is accepted. However, this can be extended if the Liquor Commission approves.

After the investigation is completed

After the investigation is finished, the Director of Liquor Licensing will decide to do one or more things:

  • take no further action, if there are no grounds or evidence to justify taking further action
  • give the licensee a formal warning
  • mediate the complaint
  • enter an enforceable undertaking
  • issue the licensee with an infringement notice.
  • refer your complaint to the Liquor Commission for disciplinary action.

The Director will give you, the licensee and the Liquor Commission written notice of their decision.

If the Director refers your complaint to the Liquor Commission, it may hold a hearing to make a decision about the complaint.

Hearings are usually open to the public, unless the commission decides that a public hearing is not appropriate.

More information

For a list of licensees and liquor licences in the NT, go to the online public register.

For information about complaint decisions made by the:


Appoint an acting liquor licensee

If your circumstances change and prevent you from running your business properly for more than seven consecutive days, you must:

  • appoint a person to act on your behalf
  • notify the Director of Liquor Licensing in writing within three days of the appointment.

How long you can appoint an acting licensee

You can appoint an acting licensee for up to 90 days during any 12 month period.

If you want to appoint an acting licensee for more than 90 days, you must provide reasons.

The appointment will be considered once the application has been reviewed.

How to appoint

To appoint, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in a notice of appointment of acting liquor licensee.

Appoint an acting liquor licensee PDF (701.4 KB)
Appoint an acting liquor licensee DOCX (67.4 KB)

Step 2. Submit the appointment and a copy of the manager's responsible service of alcohol (RSA) certificate by email or in person.

By email

Email the documents to territorybusinesscentre@nt.gov.au or liquorlicensing.ditt@nt.gov.au.

In person

Submit the documents in person at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

Contact

For more information or help, contact Licensing NT by calling 08 8999 1800.


Declaring liquor sales at your grocery store

If you have a grocery store authority, selling liquor must be a small part of your main business of selling other goods.

This means your gross value of liquor sales must not be more than 25% of all sales each quarter.

To ensure you’re following this regulation under the Liquor Regulations 2019, you must provide a declaration within 30 days of each quarter.

Failure to submit this declaration is grounds for a complaint under the Liquor Act 2019. As a result, you may be subject to disciplinary action.

When to declare

  • Quarter 1 – 1 January to 31 March, due by 30 April
  • Quarter 2 – 1 April to 30 June, due by 30 July
  • Quarter 3 – 1 July to 30 September, due by 30 October
  • Quarter 4 – 01 October to 31 December, due by 30 January

How to declare

To declare, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the grocery store ancillary declaration.

Grocery store ancillary declaration PDF (571.4 KB)
Grocery store ancillary declaration DOCX (65.9 KB)

Step 2. Submit your form by email to DirectorLiquorLicensing.DITT@nt.gov.au.

Contact

For more information, contact Licensing NT.