Tasmanian pubs and restaurants will no longer need separate licences to serve alcohol inside and in a beer garden.
Tourism Minister Jane Howlett said the shake-up is hoped to come into effect “in the first half of this year”, scrapping the requirement for venues to hold different liquor licences.
“We’ve simplified liquor licences to deliver one fee and one licence for venues serving alcohol,” she said.
“This removes complicated and costly requirements for venues that wish to serve alcohol inside and out in a beer garden, for example.”
“We want people to be able to come to Tasmania, open up a business and start up and make it easier to do business and reduce the burden that’s been required.”
Paul Jubb, the licence of Customs House Hotel, said the move will help businesses similar to his.
“Administratively, it’s fantastic because the one licence concept just allows us to trade, meet the market, employ our staff around the times that we’re going to be busy,” he said.
“Sydney to Hobart’s a classic, where we trade 24 hours and we have to have two licences to do that.”
“And so we look forward to the government mandating these changes.”
Multi-vendor permits for events will also be introduced, allowing organisers to cover all liquor stallholders under a single permit.
“This makes the Taste of Summer easier, backs in our much-loved Festivale and ensures any of our iconic festivals from Queenstown to Bridport and back again are supported,” Howlett said.
