OLGR has kindly supplied us with a rundown on the terms and conditions of trading throughout the festive season:
Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, the sale and supply of alcohol must finish at 12 midnight regardless of whether you have approved extended trading hours that allow for later trading. Patrons must finish alcoholic drinks by 12.30am on Christmas Day. All gaming machine operations must cease at 12 midnight on Christmas Eve and may not recommence before 10am on Boxing Day.
Christmas Day
On Christmas Day, you are permitted to sell and supply liquor between 10am and 12 midnight in conjunction with a meal in a part of the premises that is ordinarily set aside for dining, if the meal is also prepared, served and intended to be eaten on the premises. Patrons can purchase alcohol for 1 hour before eating their meal, while they are eating their meal, and for 1 hour after finishing their meal. Electronic machine gaming is not to be conducted on Christmas Day, as prescribed by the Gaming Machine Regulation 2002.
Takeaway alcohol cannot be sold on Christmas Day and adult entertainment venues are prohibited from providing adult entertainment from 12 midnight on Christmas Eve and throughout Christmas Day.
On Christmas Day, licensees with accommodation can provide alcohol to in-house accommodation residents and their bona fide guests in their rooms or units only. They may also serve alcohol to patrons eating a meal in the dining area of the premises between 10am and 12 midnight. This means that alcohol may be served to patrons for 1 hour before dining, during the course of a meal and for 1 hour after the meal is finished.
Boxing Day
Usual trading hours and conditions resume for Boxing Day.
New Year’s Eve
On New Year’s Eve, you are permitted to sell or supply liquor until 2am on New Year’s Day without any need for approval from OLGR. This applies regardless of your regular approved trading hours. This means that the bar must finish serving at 2am, unless the premises is currently approved to trade beyond 2am.