Anzac Day trading hours for licensed premises

Anzac Day (25 April) affects trading hours, alcohol service and the use of gaming machines in Queensland licensed premises.

The restrictions are provided under the Liquor Act 1992.

Trading on the day before Anzac Day

On the day before Anzac Day (24 April) , the sale and supply of alcohol must stop at midnight. Patrons have until 12.30am to finish their drinks.

Identification (ID) scanning is not required unless you have a licence condition that requires ID scanning during your approved trading hours.

All liquor licensees' trading hours on Anzac Day

On Anzac Day, all liquor licensees can sell or supply alcohol from 10am to 1pm, but only with a meal, in a part of the premises ordinarily set aside for dining. The meal must be prepared, served and eaten on the premises.

(Note: A meal is food that can be eaten with cutlery while seated—for example, roast beef with vegetables, lasagne, a stir-fry or a curry with rice. It is not light takeaway food like snacks, hot chips, an entree or kid's meal.)

Patrons can buy alcohol from 1 hour before eating their meal to 1 hour after finishing their meal.

Takeaway alcohol is not permitted before 1pm on Anzac Day.

You don't need special approval or a permit from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) to trade within these hours and conditions.

If you're not an RSL or services club (or in an agreement with one), and you're not serving meals, you can't trade until after 1pm on Anzac Day. You can still host other activities, such as lawn bowls, as long as you don't serve alcohol.

Read more about how you can use licensed premises outside trading hours.

Ordinary trading hours resume after 1pm on Anzac Day.

Gambling hours

No gambling is permitted in hotels and clubs between midnight (or 3am for casinos) and 1pm on Anzac Day (25 April).

Patrons can use TAB facilities in hotels or clubs from 12pm on Anzac Day as long as no alcohol is being sold or supplied.

After 1pm, ordinary gambling hours apply.

RSLs and services clubs trading on Anzac Day

From 5am on Anzac Day, RSLs and services clubs can sell and supply alcohol in association with dawn services as part of their ordinary trading hours. They don't need to apply for a permit to do this if they're catering for Anzac Day services or commemorations.

RSLs and services clubs are also exempt from having to provide meals when serving alcohol on Anzac Day.

RSLs and services clubs don't need to keep a sign-on register for people attending Anzac Day functions.

Unlicensed groups wanting to trade on Anzac Day

Other unlicensed groups—for example, unlicensed RSLs or services clubs—can enter into a written agreement with a licensed premises to sell or supply alcohol for them at an Anzac Day commemoration. Meals don't need to be served if this agreement is in place.

They can then apply for an extended trading hours permit to be allowed to trade from 5am to 1pm.

Note: The agreement must state that the licensed premises is holding the Anzac Day commemoration on the group's behalf (e.g. because there's no suitable RSL or services club premises available). The agreement must also state the start and finish times of the event. A letter from the group wanting to commemorate Anzac Day, which states the event will be held on the licensed premises and the times, will be sufficient.

Extending Anzac Day trading to before 10am

Liquor licensees (other than licensed RSLs or services clubs—or unlicensed groups who have agreements with them—who don't need this approval) can apply for an extended trading hours permit to trade before 10am, which can include anytime from 6am.

With this permit, you must only sell or supply alcohol with a meal, in a part of the premises ordinarily set aside for dining. The meal must be prepared, served and eaten on the premises.

Patrons can buy alcohol from 1 hour before eating their meal to 1 hour after finishing their meal.

How to apply for extended Anzac Day trading

Submit your application for an extended trading hours permit (form 10) to OLGR by emailing the completed application form to OLGRlicensing@justice.qld.gov.au. The application can't be submitted online.

Applications must be lodged at least 21 days before Anzac Day (i.e. on or before 4 April).

You'll need to pay a small fee for an extended trading hours permit. Once we receive your application, we'll contact you to confirm the amount you have to pay.

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  • Last reviewed: 3 Apr 2023
  • Last updated: 22 Sep 2023