The Annual Liquor Licence Fees (ALLF) base fee and the compliance history risk loading have been increased in 2024 to support a range of regulatory and trading changes. However, only venues with a demerit point pay the compliance loading fee. This increase takes effect on 15 March 2024 and will be applied to the upcoming 2024 ALLF cycle.
Every holder of a NSW liquor licence is required to pay an annual liquor licence fee. Liquor licensing in NSW is built on a framework where the industry contributes to the cost of its regulation.
All liquor licence fees are increased annually based on the rate of inflation. For the 2024 fee cycle, the ALLF base fee component and the compliance loading fee are being increased above the annual rate of inflation. All other fees payable will be increased only at the rate of inflation.
The funds collected from the fee increase will go directly towards implementing a series of NSW Government reforms that aim to support and generate more activity within the night-time economy across NSW.
The NSW Government anticipates that these reforms will deliver substantial benefits to the industry, reducing business risk by affording greater protection from noise complaints and enhancing the long-term economic well-being of licensed businesses across NSW. These benefits not only extend to those in cities, but also licensees across rural and regional NSW.
The fee increase to the ALLF base fee and compliance loading is proportional, with licensed venues that will benefit the most from the reforms paying a higher amount, and those receiving less paying a lower fee.
Annual liquor licence fees are calculated by L&GNSW on 15 March each year using licence information held by the NSW Government. The fee increase will come into effect on the base ALLF for each licence type and the compliance history risk loading from 15 March 2024. Only venues with a demerit point pay the compliance loading fee. This increase will be applied to the upcoming 2024 ALLF cycle. See the 2024 ALLF table below for details.
From 2024, venues whose licensees and managers have not incurred any demerit points in the last three years will be rewarded with a 5% discount on its base licence fee and trading hours risk loading.
Dedicated live music and performance venues, including participating venues located in Special Entertainment Precincts, are eligible for an 80% discount on base fee and trading hours risk loading if they meet certain criteria. Only eligible venues that are included on Liquor & Gaming NSW’s live music and performance venues published list can access the discount. To learn more visit: Incentives for live music and performance venues - Liquor & Gaming NSW
Venues experiencing financial difficulties are eligible to apply for a fee waiver for the upcoming ALLF cycle. Fee waiver applications can be submitted on the L&GNSW website and must be received before 22 May 2024 to be considered by Liquor & Gaming NSW. Supporting documentation that shows evidence of financial hardship must accompany the application.
The annual licence fee is calculated on a simple model:
Risk-based loadings increase when the risk level of a premises increases.
For example: If you’re a business with a large, late trading premises and have a poor compliance history, your business will be identified as high-risk and attract additional risk-based loadings.
*Venues whose licensees and managers have not incurred any demerit points in the last three years will be given a 5% discount on annual liquor licence fees on base fee and trading hours risk loading.
Find out more about trading hours risk loading conditions and exemptions
Compliance risk loadings apply if, in the past calendar year:
Compliance risk loadings include two factors:
Licensees, managers and clubs will incur demerit points for committing demerit offences or via a prescribed complaint. Demerit points expire after 3 years.
A demerit offence is a serious breach of liquor legislation. Most demerit offences result in the automatic imposition of 1 demerit point against a licensee, manager or club. However, offences involving the sale or supply of liquor to minors result in 2 demerit points.
Demerit points result in additional loadings attached to the annual liquor licence fee of a venue.
For a list of demerit offences and further information in relation to prescribed complaints, please refer to the Incentives and Demerit Point System fact sheet PDF, 444 KB.
The patron capacity risk loading only applies if you are also required to pay a compliance history risk loading. Your patron capacity risk loading is based on the number of people your premises is allowed to hold.
Note: Accommodation areas are not included in the patron capacity of a licensed premises.
If you do not pay your licence fees by 26 June 2024, your licence will be suspended and a late payment fee of $130 applied in addition to any outstanding fees.
Applications to waive the late payment fee will open on 27 June 2024 and close on 25 July 2024.
It is illegal to sell liquor with a suspended licence.
If you do not pay your annual liquor licence fee and late payment fee by 25 July 2024, your liquor licence will be cancelled on 26 July 2024.
If your licence is cancelled and you still need to use it, you will need to apply for a licence reinstatement and pay a reinstatement fee of $321 in addition to your annual liquor licence fee and late payment fee.
Applications for licence reinstatements will open on 26 July 2024 and close on 20 September 2024. After this date your licence will be permanently cancelled.
Applicants will be contacted by Liquor & Gaming to organise payment for the application.
It is illegal to sell liquor with a Suspended or Cancelled liquor licence.
Your fee notice will include:
Liquor Licence Manager includes an option to use PayID which is a secure, instant payment method. It is easy to register and only has a $0.55 charge on all standard transactions.
To register for Liquor Licence Manager, visit the Service NSW website.
Applications for fee waivers based on financial hardship for the 2024 Annual Liquor Licence Fee cycle will close on 22 May 2024.
Supporting documentation that shows evidence of financial hardship must accompany the application.
Applications for the annual liquor fee reassessment will close on 25 July 2024.
If you have not been informed of the outcome of your application before the ALLF due date and you still want to trade, you are required to pay the ALLF in full to continue to trade and avoid suspension or cancellation of your licence.
If your application has been successful after the payment has been made, a refund will be processed for the difference in fee.
You still need to pay an annual liquor licence fee if you are currently not trading.
If you have ceased trading or your licence has been temporarily or voluntarily suspended, you still need to pay your annual liquor licence fee because your licence is still valid. If you surrender your liquor licence, there is no need to pay the annual liquor licence fee as you will no longer have a liquor licence.
We send email reminders with important information about your liquor licence, including annual fee notices, and reminders.
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