Addressing the harmful use of alcohol - WHO Western Pacific Region

Addressing the harmful use of alcohol : A guide to developing effective alcohol legislation
Although a wider range of businesses now seek to sell alcohol, the trends in recent legislation
have been toward a limited number of licence types. A base set of licence types might be:
• Sale for consumption off the premises (‘off-licences’ such as bottle stores or supermarkets);
• Sale for consumption on the premises (bars, pubs and night clubs, restaurants and cafés,
accommodation hotels);
• Sale by clubs to members only; and
• Occasional event licences.
Definitions and any important restrictions for the different licence types are set by legislation,
including any types of business that may not hold a licence. Other standard or particular
conditions related to the circumstances or management of the different types of licensed
business may be set by the licensing authority or by regulations with guidelines if needed
for those administering licence applications. This allows flexibility and avoids the need for
continual legislative change as issues arise (Ayres and Braithwaite 1992).
Legislation often requires on-licensed premises whose “principal purpose of business is the
sale of alcohol” (taverns in New Zealand and hotels in Australia) to be age-restricted, while
licensed businesses whose principal purpose is serving food are not. In New South Wales an
off-licensed business whose principal business is not the sale of alcohol (e.g. supermarkets)
must nevertheless sell the alcohol in a separate area for easier control. Many countries
specifically prohibit businesses that sell petrol from selling alcohol. In Victoria, Australia,
alcohol sales are prohibited in petrol stations as well as drive-in cinemas or premises that in
the opinion of the licensing authority are used primarily as a milk bar, convenience store or
mixed business. New Zealand law allows beer and wine sales only from supermarkets and
prohibits licensing dairies (convenience stores) although definitions have allowed slippage.
Vanuatu restricts some licensed business to beer and wine sales by issuing a limited on- or
off-licence.
Licences for special events on particular dates (‘special,’ ‘occasional’ or ‘limited’ licences)
may have different criteria or fewer requirements in regard to monitoring or management.
Large events can be granted a special licence with extra conditions related to appropriate
management. Guidelines may ensure that occasional licences are not used regularly by
groups to avoid obtaining a club licence, or by bars as a regular way of extending limited hours
of trading. Licences for clubs that may sell or supply alcohol to members only typically have
lighter management requirements. It may need to be considered whether some large sports
clubs serving members and guests should have the same conditions of management as pubs.
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