BYO liquor permit

Restaurants, clubs and party or commercial bus operators are generally the businesses that apply for a BYO liquor permit.

These businesses do not want to supply or sell alcohol on their premises, but instead want to allow their customers to bring their own alcohol to drink.

There are 2 types of BYO permits that can be applied for in Victoria:

• BYO permit (restaurants and clubs)
• BYO permit (party buses).

Both permit types are outlined below. Apply for the one that best meets your needs.

BYO permit for restaurants or clubs

Apply for this permit if you are a restaurant or club that does not intend to sell liquor to your customers. You want to allow your customers to bring their own liquor for consumption on your premises.

Applicants should specify their trading hours when completing their permit application.

BYO permit for party buses

Apply for this permit if you are a commercial or party bus operator who does not intend to sell or provide liquor to customers. Instead you want to allow customers to bring their own alcohol to drink on the bus.

The BYO permit is for commercially operated buses that take pre-bookings and also:

• operate at night between 8pm and 5am (regardless of the time of passenger pick-up)
• operate in a designated area or for the purpose of carrying passengers travelling to or from visiting a designated area.

Applicants must:

• submit a management plan aimed at reducing alcohol-related harms associated with party bus activities
• adhere to a code of conduct that complies with the standards of patron and operator behaviour expected by Liquor Control Victoria (LCV).

LCV has the discretion to impose conditions on a BYO permit to reduce any risks.

Selling alcohol and one-off events

Restaurants, clubs and party buses that want to supply alcohol, whether for sale or included in a ticket price, need to get a liquor licence.

If it is a one-off event you can apply for a temporary limited licence.