Late night freeze

The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) will generally not grant applications for licences to trade after 1am in Melbourne (including Docklands), Stonnington, Yarra and Port Phillip, unless certain conditions are met.

The VCGLR refers to specific decision-making guidelines when determining applications from licensees who wish to serve liquor after 1am within these areas. For more information download the Decision-Making Guidelines Late Night Freeze (PDF, 327KB).

All applications to serve liquor after 1am in these areas require the prior support of the relevant local council.

Each local council has developed its own process or policy on how decisions will be made on these applications.

Contact your relevant local council for further information and guidance. 

Step 1

Secure local council support first.

Step 2

Applicants for the grant, relocation or variation of permanent liquor licences must satisfy the VCGLR that:

1. the premises is or will be used as:

• an accommodation hotel, or
• a venue that regularly provides live music entertainment, or
• a venue that supplies liquor for consumption on the premises provided food is available at all times when alcohol is supplied.

2.  the applicant can satisfy the Commission that:

• the application is supported by the council of the municipality in which the premises is, or will be, located; and
• it has in place, or will put in place, a Venue management plan (PDF 144KB) in the form required by the Commission
• the economic and social benefit of granting the licence will outweigh the impact of alcohol misuse and abuse and community amenity
• the patron capacity of the premises or proposed premises does not, or will not, exceed 200 persons.

Step 1

Secure local council support first.

Step 2

Applicants for the grant, relocation or variation of permanent liquor licences must satisfy the VCGLR that the application is for:

• a significant cultural festival, or
• a major tourist event, or
• New Year's Eve, or
• a major live music event, or
• a major charity event,

And

• the application is supported by the council of the municipality in which the premises is, or will be, located; and
• it has in place, or will put in place, a Venue Venue management plan (PDF 144KB) in the form required by the Commission
• it will comply with any food service conditions on the licence until alcohol service finishes.