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When you need an alcohol special licence
You need an alcohol special licence if you are:
- selling alcohol at an event
- charging an entry fee or collecting donations where alcohol is being supplied for free.
Examples include:
- wine tastings
- private functions (birthdays, weddings)
- farmers' markets
- festivals
- concerts
- sporting events
- bus trips
- ticketed events
- functions in public venue where public access is not restricted.
Large events
If you are hosting a large public event, contact us at alcohollicensing@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to arrange a pre-application meeting or to speak to an alcohol licensing inspector.
Special licence for events spanning more than one day
You can get a special licence for an event that takes place over several days, as long as the event is the same in size, form and substance each day, and is all related.
This includes:
- an event that takes place over several consecutive days, like a music festival or food and wine show
- an event that is spread out over time with gaps in between, like a sports tournament that takes place over four consecutive Saturdays.
If you have a number of events that are unrelated to each other, or different in size, form and substance, you will need to make individual applications for a special licence for each event – that is to say one application form per event.
What is not covered by an alcohol special licence
Special licences can only be issued for events where alcohol will be sold. They cannot be issued for events where:
- alcohol is supplied as part of a fundraising auction
- alcohol is supplied free of charge by the host
- the event is BYO (Bring Your Own). Visit the New Zealand Police website for more information on BYOs.
Alcohol cannot be used as a prize in a raffle.