Singapore Liquor License Application Guide
Singapore is one of the world’s strongest economies and a highly-developed country in Southeast Asia. As the economy in Singapore is constantly growing and the spending of the consumers increasing, it leads to an increasing in demand of alcoholic products. The alcoholic retailers are striving for the attention of the places where people regularly sit over glasses of wine, such as the restaurants and bars.
Prior to starting a Liquor Retail in Singapore, you must incorporate and register a business with Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore ("ACRA") and apply for a liquor licence which issued by Singapore Police Force ("SPF")
- Liquor Licences
A liquor licence is required (unless exempted) if your business intends to sell or supply any liquor in Singapore. The meaning of liquor is:-
- a beverage containing more than 0.5% ethanol by mass or volume;
- a mixture of ethanol and some other substance or liquid (including water) and containing more than 0.5% ethanol by mass or volume; or
- any other substance (whether or not a beverage or liquid) that is prescribed by the regulations as liquor.
Under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) Regulations 2015, the liquor (whether a single type or a combination of 2 or more types) could be supplied in 2 ways:-
- retail if the supply is for less than 30 litres of liquor; or
- wholesale when liquor of:
(a) any quantity is provided to a liquor licensee; or
(b) 30 litres or more to any person.
However, a liquor licence is not required for the following circumstances:-
- delivery only to a person, at the request of the person, of liquor that is owned by, or ordered under a contract of purchase by, the person.
- in an emergency where the liquor is necessary to preserve life or prevent injury or further injury.
- in the course of a religious service, ceremony or rite lawfully conducted by a priest or minister of religion in a place of worship.
- any other circumstances as the Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, specify.
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- Types of Liquor Licences
Before applying for a liquor licence, you should first decide what type of licence you will require. There are eight (8) types of liquor licences as stated in the table below.
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Categories
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Description of Types of Licences
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Trading Hours
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1A
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Supply of liquor for consumption at the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence.
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6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
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1B
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Supply of liquor for consumption at the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence.
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6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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2A
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Supply of beer only for consumption at the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence.
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6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
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2B
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Supply of beer only for consumption at licensed premises stated in the liquor licence.
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Trading hours as indicated on licence
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3A
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Supply by retail of liquor for consumption at premises other than the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence.
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7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
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3B
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Supply by retail of beer for consumption at premises other than the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence.
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7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
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4
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Supply by wholesale of liquor for consumption at premises other than the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence.
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7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
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5
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Temporary licence where licence is required for a short period of time, such as once-off events and exhibitions.
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Specified time period of not more than 30 consecutive days
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With effect from 1 August 2017, Class 3A, 3B or 4 Liquor Licence Holders will be able to deliver liquor beyond the trading hours specified in the liquor licence if the delivery is made to a non-public place in Singapore such as residential areas and office premises.
You may apply for the type of licence by considering the following factors:-
- The types of alcoholic beverages you will be selling (i.e. beer / liquor);
- The time period during which you will be selling the beer or liquor; and
- The type of business establishment that you are running (i.e. a bar with on-site consumption of alcohol, or a convenience store, or you are a wholesaler).
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- Criteria for Grant of Licence
After deciding the type of licence that you need to apply for, you must ensure that you meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the licence:-
- The company must be registered with ACRA (unless the you are only applying for a Class 2B licence, or if you are representing a registered society);
- You are at least a committee member if applying on behalf of societies registered with the Registry of Societies ("ROS");
- You must be a Singapore Citizen, Singapore Permanent Resident or a foreigner who possess a valid work permit or Employment Pass;
- You must be a director of the company, a partner of the partnership, or the sole proprietor of the sole proprietorship;
- You must possess a valid hawker licence issued by National Environment Agency ("NEA") if applying for Class 2B licence; and
- You must be fit and proper person.
To assess whether you are fit and proper to hold a liquor licence, the Licensing Officer will consider whether you:-
- have been convicted of or are under investigation for any offence;
- have a good track record of complying with the conditions of any liquor licence previously issued to you or a business that you are/were related to;
- have been cooperative with the SPF in respect of any investigation in relation to the liquor licence; and
- have had any licence, permission or permit issued by a regulatory authority cancelled or suspended for reasons which renders if you are unsuitable to hold a Liquor licence.
However, you will not automatically be held to be not fit and proper to hold a liquor licence if failed to meet any of the criteria or requirements set out above. The weight of each factor is to be determined at the Licensing Officer’s discretion.
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- Extension Hours Liquor Licence
Subject to any extensions granted by the Licensing Officer, no licensed premises shall remain open beyond the trading hours stated in the licence, unless it is to be used for any purpose other than the supply of liquor. Under the Liquor Control Act, supply of liquor after the stipulated trading hours will result in a maximum fine of $10,000.
There are 2 types of extension hours, being regular and ad-hoc:-
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Types
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Extension of time period
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Applicable if you possess any of the following valid licence
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Regular Extension
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- For regular basis, such as every Saturday and Sunday for a minimum period of 2 months or all eve of public holidays within the given period.
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-Class 1
-Class 2 Liquor Licence
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Ad-hoc Extension
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- For a specific date basis, such as 1 Jan 2020; or
- Supply of liquor (only for Class 5 licence)
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- Class 1
- Class 2
-Temporary Class 1 Liquor Licence
-Temporary Class 2 Liquor Licence only
- Class 5
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| With effect from 1 July 2019, SPF will not grant extended liquor trading hours for all premises with Urban Redevelopment Authority ("URA")'s planning approval for "restaurant" (except for premises of restaurant-hybrid uses such as "restaurant and bar".
- Application process and documents required
Applications is to be made using the electronic application service provided at the GoBusiness portal, accompanied by the application fee which the fee is determined according to the class of licence the company is applying for.
After submitting the application, the applicant may be required to submit the following supporting documents:-
- ACRA certificate;
- A copy of the applicant's National Registration Identity Card ("NRIC") (for Singaporean or Permanent Resident) or Foreign Identification Card (for non-Singaporeans with work permit/pass);
- Approval from Housing & Development Board ("HDB") on the sales of Liquor at the premises;
- Planning permission on the land use of the premise from URA or Singapore Land Authority ("SLA");
- Copy of ROS Certificate (for applying on behalf of societies).
- Copy of the hawkers licence issued by NEA for applying for an outdoor beer stall as hawkers (i.e. Class 2B Licence);
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- Time Frame for Application
The normal processing time for an application is 12 working days from the receipt of the application and the necessary supporting documents, if required. Processing time starts from the date of application is received to the date of approval or rejection.
Kaizen suggests you to consult with professional advisors before the proposals coming into effect. Kaizen Singapore office is able to provide clients with the Liquor Licence application and consultancy services, please consult our professional consultant. |
