Penalties for irresponsible service of alcohol

As a liquor licensee, you, your staff and your patrons can be penalised under the Liquor Act 1992 for breaches of responsible service of alcohol.

Legislation requires that penalties are calculated by the amount of penalty units relating to each particular offence. The value of each penalty unit is $161.30 (current from 1 July—the values change each year on this date).

In addition to monetary penalties, recurrent breaches can also result in:

mandatory suspension of licence – if a licensee is convicted of 2 offences in relation to minors or intoxicated persons within a 2–year period the licence will be automatically suspended
impact on annual fees – a licensee's compliance history, including some infringement notices and some prosecutions will be considered in risk assessments for annual fees.

Condition of licence

Infringement	Penalties
Failure to comply with any condition on the licence	Maximum penalty of $6,452 for individuals (if the premises is not in a restricted area)

Disorderly patrons

Infringement	Penalties
Sell liquor to a disorderly patron Give liquor to a disorderly patron Allow liquor to be given to the patron Allow the patron to consume liquor	Maximum penalty for licensee or manager: $80,650 Maximum penalty for bar attendant or individual: $12,904

Identification checking

Infringement	Penalties
Failure to seize false identity documents Failure to maintain confidentiality while checking identities	Maximum penalty: $4,032 Maximum penalty: $5,645

Irresponsible service of alcohol

Infringement	Penalties
Licensee engages in practices or promotions that encourage rapid or excessive consumption of liquor Licensee sells or supplies rapid intoxication drink during the restricted period	Maximum penalty for licensee, approved manager: $16,130

Irresponsible service practices

Infringement	Penalties
This is in regard to any irresponsible service of alcohol practices – a licensee and/or approved manager are liable to have disciplinary action made against them for irresponsible service practices as well as failing to comply with the Liquor Act and Liquor Regulation 2002	Licensees: Cancel the licence Suspend the licence for a period up to a maximum of 12 months Close the premises or part of the premises for a period Varying the licence by conditions or limiting the authority to trade Reduce the trading hours Disqualifying the licensee from holding the licence for a period up to a maximum of 5 years Requiring the licensee to pay the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation an amount of money not exceeding $10,000 per ground Requiring the licensee to undertake the licensee's course within a stated period Reprimanding the licensee

Infringement

Penalties

This is in regard to any irresponsible service of alcohol practices – a licensee and/or approved manager are liable to have disciplinary action made against them for irresponsible service practices as well as failing to comply with the Liquor Act and Liquor Regulation 2002

Licensees:

Cancel the licence
Suspend the licence for a period up to a maximum of 12 months
Close the premises or part of the premises for a period
Varying the licence by conditions or limiting the authority to trade
Reduce the trading hours
Disqualifying the licensee from holding the licence for a period up to a maximum of 5 years
Requiring the licensee to pay the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation an amount of money not exceeding $10,000 per ground
Requiring the licensee to undertake the licensee's course within a stated period
Reprimanding the licensee

Minors

Infringement	Penalties
Sell liquor to a minor Give liquor to a minor Allow liquor to be given to a minor Allow a minor to consume liquor	Maximum penalty for licensee, permittee or approved manager: $40,325 Maximum penalty for bar attendant or individual: $12,904

Infringement

Penalties

Sell liquor to a minor
Give liquor to a minor
Allow liquor to be given to a minor
Allow a minor to consume liquor

Maximum penalty for licensee, permittee or
approved manager: $40,325

Maximum penalty for bar attendant or individual: $12,904

Safe environment

Infringement	Penalties
Failure of licensee to provide and maintain a safe environment in and around the premises	Maximum penalty: $16,130

Security

Infringement	Penalties
Failure to comply with closed circuit television conditions Licensee employs unlicensed crowd controllers	Maximum penalty: $16,130

Signage

Infringement	Penalties
Failure to display appropriate signage	Maximum penalty: $4,032

Trading hours

Infringement	Penalties
Supply of liquor at a time which is outside trading hours of the licence Allowing consumption of liquor on licensed premises at any time which is outside trading hours of the licence	Maximum penalty: $16,130

Unduly intoxicated patrons

Infringement	Penalties
Sell liquor to an intoxicated patron Give liquor to an intoxicated patron Allow liquor to be given to the patron Allow the patron to consume liquor	Maximum penalty for licensee or manager: $80,650 Maximum penalty for bar attendant or individual: $12,904

Water

Infringement	Penalties
Failure to provide water free or at a reasonable cost	Maximum penalty: $6,452

Selling alcohol in Queensland without a licence

In Queensland, you can only sell alcohol with the authority of a licence or permit issued under the Liquor Act. This includes selling alcohol over the internet, for example on eBay or Facebook.

You can be fined a maximum of $80,650 for a first offence, with increased fines of up to $161,300 or 18 months imprisonment for subsequent offences.

The Liquor Act defines 'sell' as including:

barter or exchange
offer, agree or attempt to sell
expose, send, forward or deliver for sale
cause or permit to be sold or offered for sale
supply or offer, agree or attempt to supply
- in circumstances in which the supplier derives, or would be likely to derive, a direct or indirect pecuniary benefit
- or
- gratuitously, but to gain or keep custom or other commercial advantage.

Find out how to apply for liquor or wine licences and permits.

Also consider...

Read more about minors and under-age drinking on licensed premises.
Learn more about responsible service of alcohol (RSA) training.

Last reviewed: 24 Jun 2022
Last updated: 1 Jul 2024