IMPORTANT INFORMATION - Please read carefully

In accordance with the Liquor Licence Act, 2021, the following outlines the relevant information pertaining to the objection process to a Liquor Licence.

Click here to read the Liquor Licence Act, 2021.

Conditions to be satisfied

10. (1) No licence shall be issued to an applicant unless the Liquor Licensing

Authority is satisfied that

the applicant has attained the age of 18 years;

the premises are suitable for the conduct of business under the particular class of licence to which the application relates; 

any objection made under section 12 to an application for the issue of a retail or an entertainment licence has been determined; 

and the grant of the licence would not be contrary to the public interest.

(2) Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted as precluding a licensee from the responsibility of complying with any law relating to

the health conditions to be satisfied by persons serving food and drink to the public; or

building standards and facilities relating to sanitation and health to be provided for members of the public at any establishment.

Publication of notice in respect of applications for new retail and entertainment licences

11.(1) On receipt of a new application for a retail licence or an entertainment licence, the Liquor Licensing Authority shall, within 3 days,

publish a notice of the receipt of the application on the Ministry's website or in such other manner as is approved by the Director;

indicate in the notice published under paragraph (a) that an objection may be lodged with the Authority in respect of the application by any person who is of the view that the issue of a licence to the applicant would be prejudicial to his interest; and

notify the Commissioner of Police of the application.

For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) "Ministry's website" means the official website of the Ministry responsible for liquor licensing.

Right to object to application for new retail or entertainment licence

12. A person may, in relation to an application for a new retail or entertainment licence, no later than 7 days after the publication of a notice under section 11, lodge an objection with the Liquor Licensing Authority in respect of the application.

Hearing of objections in relation to new applications for retail and entertainment licences

13.(1) Where an objection under section 12 is received by the Liquor Licensing Authority in relation to an application for a new retail or entertainment licence, the Authority shall hear and determine the objection no later than 7 days after the objection is received.

(2) Where an objection is lodged under section 12, the applicant for the licence, the Commissioner of Police and the person who has lodged the notice of objection, may appear personally or by attorney-at-law on the hearing of the objection under subsection (1).

(3) The Liquor Licensing Authority shall provide the parties referred to in subsection (2) with all necessary information relating to the hearing of the objection, including the time and place of the hearing.

(4) In the hearing and determination of any objections before it, the Liquor Licensing Authority may act without regard to technicalities and legal form, and shall not be bound to follow the rules of evidence stipulated in the Evidence Act, Cap. 121.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), the Authority may inform itself on any matter in such manner as it thinks just and may take into account opinion evidence and such facts as it considers relevant and material.