Author: Andrew George
Practice area: public order offences
Andrew is a founding Director of Doogue + George, ranked by Doyle's Guide as a Leading Criminal Defence Lawyer in Victoria (2026) and an LIV Accredited Criminal Law Specialist since 1995 with over 30 years of experience across all Victorian courts, tribunals and Royal Commissions. His depth of experience in this area means clients receive accurate, considered advice.
View full profile →Andrew authored this content and last revised it for accuracy on 7 August 2026.
What is the offence of Supply Liquor in Breach of Licence?
Supply Liquor in Breach of Licence is an offence under section 108(1)(a) of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 (Vic). It concerns non-compliance with the statutory framework regulating licensed venues and BYO permits, where alcohol-related activity occurs outside the authority granted under Victorian liquor licensing laws.
Key points
- The accused was a licensee or permittee who supplied liquor, or permitted its supply or consumption, contrary to licence or BYO permit conditions.
- Conduct includes selling, offering, exchanging, disposing of or giving away liquor outside the authority granted by the licence or permit.
- Generally dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court as a summary offence.
The maximum penalty for Supply Liquor in Breach of Licence is a fine of 60 penalty units ($12,546.00 as at 2026–27).
Common defences may include factual dispute and whether the prosecution can prove each element beyond reasonable doubt.
Have you been accused of Supply Liquor in Breach of Licence?
Interview
Before you speak with an investigator, we recommend that you obtain legal advice from one of our lawyers. The interview is not the time or place for you to explain your side of the story and hope the allegation will go away. Everything you tell the investigator can be used to prove this charge against you.
Pleading Not Guilty
If you have been charged with Supply Liquor in Breach of License, speak with one of our experienced lawyers as soon as possible. One of our lawyers will look at the brief of evidence and advise you on your prospects of successfully defending the charge. We are proactive in our approach to representing people and want to make sure your interests are protected.
For example, we consider – are there witnesses who the Police have not spoken to? Is there evidence that Police have not gathered?
Pleading Guilty
If you decide to plead guilty to a charge of Supply Liquor in Breach of Licence, we will work to resolve the case on the most favourable basis possible. This might involve engaging in negotiations with the prosecution about the details of the charge. We will be by your side to walk you through this process and ensure you engage in all the mitigating processes to support presenting your personal history to the Court.
Which court will the case be heard in?
Any summons for this charge will generally be handled by the Magistrates’ Court.
What is the legal definition of Supply Liquor in Breach of Licence?
A licensee or permittee must not, except in accordance with the licence or BYO permit and this Act – (i) supply liquor; or (ii) permit or cause liquor to be supplied; or (iii) permit liquor to be consumed – on the licensed premises or on any authorised premises.
Examples of Supply Liquor in Breach of Licence
- You hold a cafe licence, which allows you to supply liquor during ordinary trading hours for consumption on the licensed premises, where the predominant activity carried out at all times is the preparation and serving of meals. In breach of your licence, you serve liquor at 10pm, after the kitchen has closed.
Elements of the offence
To Prosecution must prove the following beyond reasonable doubt:
- That the accused was licensed or permitted to sell liquor;
A ‘licensee’ is the holder of a licence under the Act, and a ‘permittee’ is a holder of a BYO permit under the Act. Whether or not the accused has a licence or a permit will be a matter of fact.Licenses and BYO permits are regulated under Part 2 of the Act. Licenses include general licences, on-premise licenses, restaurant and cafe licences, club licenses and more.1 A BYO permit authorises liquor to be consumed, possessed or controlled on the premises in respect of which the permit is granted (with BYO meaning ‘bring your own’).2 - The accused supplied, permitted or caused the consumption of liquor on the premises within their control;
‘Supply’ includes sell, offer or expose for sale, exchange, dispose of or give away.3‘Premises’ has a wide meaning, and includes a vehicle, vessel and aircraft.4 - The accused committed these acts in a manner that is not in accordance with the licence or BYO permit.
What the accused is permitted to do under their licence or permit will depend on what time of licence or permit they hold. See Part 2 Division 1 of the Act for the different categories of licences and permits.
Legislation
The legislation for this offence is found under section 108(1)(a) of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998<e/m> (‘the Act’).
Defences
As with most cases the criminal defences that are used in response to this charge include factual dispute, the concept of beyond reasonable doubt amongst others. The defence will depend on the factual circumstance of the case.
Questions in cases like this
- Do you have a permit or licence?
- Did you supply liquor in breach of this licence?
Often matters resolve as a plea of guilty to charges and then the process is one of making sure the Court understand the circumstances in which the offending occurred and impose the least penalty they can. How the plea process works and the result often impacts on further issues in relation to licensing.
Whether you should contest or plead guilty to this charge depends on a lot of factors that can best be assessed by a criminal lawyer. Contact one to discuss your case.
Maximum penalty for section 108(1)(a) of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998
The offence of (s108(1)(a) of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998) carries a fine of 60 penalty units ($12,546.00 as at 2026–27) as the highest possible sentence. As a summary offence.
