Takeaway alcohol rules and restrictions in the NT

Rules for buying takeaway alcohol can vary in each Northern Territory (NT) region.

This can include different:

opening hours
purchasing limits
permits
rules on refusal of service.

If you don't know the conditions in your location, contact the liquor store.

In all regions of the NT

You must show an approved form of ID.
You must not drink in a prohibited public place or dry community.
You can't ask a taxi driver to buy alcohol for you.
On Sundays only liquor stores attached to a licenced venue can open.
On Good Friday and Christmas Day, all liquor stores are closed.

Takeaway liquor store hours, limits and rules by region

Restrictions are either required by law or part of a licence condition for a business to sell alcohol in that region.

In some regions, there are no takeaway liquor stores, but with a permit you may be able to order it through a barge or bush service.

Learn more about individual liquor permits.

Greater Darwin region

Purchasing hours

Monday to Friday: 10am to 10pm
Saturday: 9am to 10pm
Sunday: 10am to 10pm (liquor stores attached to licence premises only)
Public holidays: 9am to 10pm
Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

Refusal of service

This applies to buying takeaway alcohol in Darwin, Palmerston and parts of the rural area including Howard Springs and Virginia.

You can be refused service if:

you can't give details on where you will drink your takeaway alcohol, or
you give a location that is a prohibited place or restricted area where drinking is not allowed.

This can happen when you buy alcohol in Darwin, Palmerston and parts of the rural area including Howard Springs and Virginia.

To see where these rules apply, check the takeaway alcohol in the Darwin region map PDF (221.0 KB).

Katherine region

Purchasing hours

Monday to Friday: 2pm to 8pm
Saturday: 12 noon to 8pm
Sunday: 2pm to 8pm (liquor stores attached to licence premises only)
Public holidays: 12 noon to 8pm
Good Friday and Christmas Day: Closed

Purchase limit

If you choose to buy from the following list, you are limited to one items per day:

2L cask of wine
1 bottle of fortified wine
1 bottle of green ginger wine.

East Arnhem region - including Groote Eylandt

Liquor permit

You must have a liquor permit to buy and drink alcohol in the East Arnhem region, whether you are a resident or a tourist.

Find out how to apply for a liquor permit in East Arnhem.

Purchasing hours

Region and opening times	Greater East Arnhem region	Groote Eylandt
Monday to Friday	2pm to 8pm	12 noon to 10pm
Saturday	10am to 9pm	10am to 10pm
Sunday (liquor stores attached to licence premises only)	2pm to 8pm	12 noon to 10pm
Public holidays	10am to 9pm	10am to 10pm
Good Friday and Christmas Day	Closed	Closed

Barkly region - including Tennant Creek, Elliott and Marlinja

Purchasing hours

Region and opening times	Tennant Creek	Elliott and Marlinja	Greater Barkly region
Monday to Friday	4pm to 7pm	12 noon to 7pm	12 noon to 7pm
Saturday	4pm to 7pm	12 noon to 7pm	12 noon to 7pm
Sunday	Closed	Closed	Closed
Public holidays	4pm to 7pm	Closed	Closed
Good Friday and Christmas Day	Closed	Closed	Closed

Purchase limits

Tennant Creek	Elliott and Marlinja
You can buy one of the following products per day: 30 cans or stubbies of mid-strength or light beer 24 cans or stubbies of full-strength beer 12 cans or bottles of ready to drink mixes one 2L cask of wine one bottle of fortified wine one bottle of green ginger wine 2 x 750ml bottles of wine one bottle of 750ml spirits.	Town residents of Elliott or Marlinja can buy one of the following items per day: 12 cans of light beer 8 cans of mid-strength beer 6 cans of heavy beer 6 cans of pre-mixed drinks Tourists can buy one of the following items per day: 30 cans or stubbies of mid-strength or light beer 24 cans or stubbies of full-strength beer 12 cans or bottles of ready-to-drink mixes one 2L cask of wine one bottle of fortified wine one bottle of green ginger wine 2 x 750ml bottles of wine one bottle of 750ml spirits.

Tennant Creek

Elliott and Marlinja

You can buy one of the following products per day:

30 cans or stubbies of mid-strength or light beer
24 cans or stubbies of full-strength beer
12 cans or bottles of ready to drink mixes
one 2L cask of wine
one bottle of fortified wine
one bottle of green ginger wine
2 x 750ml bottles of wine
one bottle of 750ml spirits.

Town residents of Elliott or Marlinja can buy one of the following items per day:

12 cans of light beer
8 cans of mid-strength beer
6 cans of heavy beer
6 cans of pre-mixed drinks

Tourists can buy one of the following items per day:

30 cans or stubbies of mid-strength or light beer
24 cans or stubbies of full-strength beer
12 cans or bottles of ready-to-drink mixes
one 2L cask of wine
one bottle of fortified wine
one bottle of green ginger wine
2 x 750ml bottles of wine
one bottle of 750ml spirits.

Bush orders

If you live outside of Tennant Creek and have a liquor permit, you can make a bush order to buy up to 7 days worth of alcohol.

You will need to provide proof that you reside outside of the Tennant Creek township.

Orders must be placed with a liquor store over the phone or by email at least one day in advance.

Alice Springs and Central Australia region

Purchasing hours

Regions and opening times	Alice Springs within local government area	Alice Springs greater region
Monday and Tuesday	Closed	2pm to 9pm
Wednesday to Friday	3pm to 7pm	2pm to 9pm
Saturday	11am to 8pm	10am to 9pm
Sunday (liquor stores attached to licence premises only)	12 noon to 9pm	12 noon to 9pm
Public holidays	11am to 8pm	10am to 9pm
Good Friday and Christmas Day	Closed	Closed

In Yulara, you can only buy takeaway alcohol if you are a guest at the resort.

Purchase limit

You can only purchase alcohol once a day.

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