With summer fast approaching, Council is encouraging anyone wanting to host a party or event where you’re selling and supplying alcohol to get your licence application sorted now.
Types of events include but are not limited to private functions (birthdays and weddings), festivals, sporting events, bus trips, farmers’ markets, and wine tastings.
The application process takes a minimum of 20 working days, so if event planners want their special licence before Christmas, they need to have their application in by 21 November.
One event that has sorted its alcohol licence early is Kaiapoi Promotions’ Sounds of Summer, that will welcome hundreds of festivalgoers to Kaiapoi Park on 7 December. The Jordan Luck Band will be headlining alongside local band Assembly Required and supported by Josh Keating and An Octave Below.
Organiser Hamish Keen says the benefit of getting your special alcohol licence application in early means the Council has time to understand what it is you’re trying to achieve with your event and how to help.
“It’s a great way to plan your event to make sure you have thought about how your event will impact your customers, neighbourhood and staff, and plans that you will need in place to mitigate any possible negative outcomes.
“The Council’s licensing team are great to deal with. You just need to email or call, and you will find them very helpful.”
A special alcohol licence is only valid for a particular event, or series of linked events, or social gatherings that are specified within that licence. If you are organising a group of events that are unrelated to each other, or of different size, you will require one application form per event.
A special alcohol licence is also required for businesses wanting to serve complimentary alcohol to their customers, for example high-end hair salons or boutique retailers.
Council Environmental Services Manager Billy Charlton says the aim of the licence is to reduce harm in the community caused by the excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol.
“A holder of a special licence will have a range of food, water, and a responsible person who looks after the guests and monitors alcohol intake, amongst other things.
“Our team looks forward to receiving your special alcohol licence applications soon.”
How to apply for a special alcohol licence
Here are a couple of things that you need to know before applying:
- A Special Licence takes 20 working days (approx. one full month) to process.
- To get your licence sorted for Christmas week you will need to put in an application before 21 November.
- There are no working days between 20 December and 15 January . This means that applications are not processed during this time.
- This also means that Special Licence events up to 14 February 2025 will be affected.
- Applications received less than 20 days before the event are unlikely to be considered.
Find out more about special alcohol licences and apply online before 21 November.