Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) Regulations 2015

No. S 181

Liquor Control
(Supply and Consumption) Act 2015

(ACT 5 OF 2015)

Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption)
(Liquor Licensing) Regulations 2015

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 35 of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015, the Minister for Home Affairs makes the following Regulations:

PART 1

PRELIMINARY

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) Regulations 2015 and come into operation on 1 April 2015.

Definitions

2.—(1)  In these Regulations —

“electronic commerce platform” means an online platform that —

(a) enables an individual to buy an item online through the platform;

(b) allows the individual to pay for the item online through the platform; and

(c) automatically confirms with the individual a delivery address for the item;

“telecommunication service” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Telecommunications Act 1999;

“third‑party electronic commerce platform”, in relation to a licensee, means an electronic commerce platform not operated by the licensee;

“working day” means any other than Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.

(2)  In these Regulations, a reference to an individual being drunk is a reference to an individual who is drunk under section 14(6) of the Act.

[S 718/2023 wef 02/01/2024]

PART 2

LIQUOR LICENCES

Publication of criteria for fit and proper person

3.  The criteria and requirements for deciding whether a person is a fit and proper person for the grant or renewal of a liquor licence are published online at https://www.police.gov.sg/E-Services/Apply-for-Liquor-Licence.

[S 97/2026 wef 09/03/2026]

Classes of liquor licence and restriction on grant or renewal of liquor licence

4.—(1)  The Licensing Officer may grant the following classes of liquor licences:

(a) Class 1A — for the supply of liquor for consumption at the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any daily trading hours from 6 a.m. to immediately before midnight (subject to any extension granted under regulation 6);

(b) Class 1B — for the supply of liquor for consumption at the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any daily trading hours from 6 a.m. to immediately before 10 p.m. (subject to any extension granted under regulation 6);

(c) Class 2A — for the supply of beer only for consumption at the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any daily trading hours from 6 a.m. to immediately before midnight (subject to any extension granted under regulation 6);

(d) Class 2B — for the supply of beer only for consumption at the licensed premises, which licence specifies any daily trading hours;

(e) Class 3A — for the supply by retail of liquor for consumption at premises other than the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any daily trading hours from 7 a.m. to immediately before 10.30 p.m. (subject to any extension granted under regulation 6);

(f) Class 3B — for the supply by retail of beer for consumption at premises other than the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any daily trading hours from 7 a.m. to immediately before 10.30 p.m. (subject to any extension granted under regulation 6);

(g) Class 4 — for the supply by wholesale of liquor for consumption at premises other than the licensed premises stated in the liquor licence, which licence specifies any daily trading hours from 7 a.m. to immediately before 10.30 p.m. (subject to any extension granted under regulation 6);

(h) Class 5 — for a temporary licence.

(2)  Subject to paragraph (3), the Licensing Officer may grant more than one class of liquor licence for any premises.

(3)  The Licensing Officer must not grant a Class 3A licence for any premises so long as there is a Class 2A or Class 2B licence for those premises that has not expired or been revoked.

(4)  A liquor licence is not renewable if the licensee has ceased or will, when the term of the liquor licence sought to be renewed expires, cease to supply liquor as authorised by the liquor licence.

(5)  In this regulation —

(a) a supply is by retail if the supply is for less than 30 litres of liquor (whether of a single type or a combination of 2 or more types); and

(b) a supply is by wholesale if the supply is —

(i) to a licensee of any quantity of liquor (whether of a single type or a combination of 2 or more types); or

(ii) without prejudice to sub-paragraph (i), to any person of 30 litres or more of liquor (whether of a single type or a combination of 2 or more types).

Term of licence

5.—(1)  A liquor licence, other than a temporary licence, is valid for the period that is stated in the liquor licence which, in the case of a liquor licence granted on or after 1 April 2015, must not exceed one year.

(2)  A temporary licence is valid for the period that is stated in the temporary licence which must not exceed 30 days.

Extension of trading hours

6.—(1)  A licensee may apply to the Licensing Officer to extend the trading hours stated in the licensee’s liquor licence.

(2)  A Licensing Officer must not grant any extension of trading hours to a licensee to the extent that the extended trading hours would be inconsistent with any trading hours which have been prescribed by the Minister under section 6(2) of the Act and are applicable to the licensee.

PART 3

DUTIES AND OBLIGATiONS RELATING TO SUPPLY

Production of licence, etc.

7.—(1)  A licensee must —

(a) if requested by the Licensing Officer or a police officer (whether or not an authorised officer), produce the licensee’s liquor licence for inspection;

(b) if directed by the Licensing Officer —

(i) display in conspicuous places at the licensee’s licensed premises, notices in the form and manner approved by the Licensing Officer stating that no person younger than 18 years is allowed to buy or consume liquor at the premises; and

(ii) display any other notice about the conditions applying to the supply and consumption of liquor at the licensed premises.

(2)  A licensee who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

Display of notices

7A.  Class 1A, Class 1B, Class 2A or Class 2B licensee commits an offence if it does not display one or more notices at the licensed premises of the licensee that satisfy the following requirements:

(a) the notices must each bear the following information legibly and in at least the English language:

(i) the trading hours applicable to the licensee;

(ii) that any supply or consumption of liquor within the licensed premises is not allowed outside of the trading hours applicable to the licensee;

(iii) that any consumption of liquor within the licensed premises outside of the trading hours applicable to the licensee may be an offence under section 12(1) of the Act;

(b) the notices must be conspicuously displayed in such prominent positions and be in such number, as will bring the information mentioned in paragraph (a) to the attention of any individual proposing to consume or consuming liquor at the premises.

[S 961/2022 wef 01/03/2023]

Leasing, etc., of licensed premises

8.—(1)  A licensee must not assign, lease or let the licensee’s licensed premises, or do any act to relinquish the management of the business for which the licensee’s licence is granted.

(2)  A licensee who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

9.  [Deleted by S 718/2023 wef 02/01/2024]

Employment of women in licensed premises

10.—(1)  A licensee must not employ or permit to be employed at the licensee’s licensed premises any waitress —

(a) who is younger than 17 years; or

(b) who the licensee knows, or ought reasonably to know, is a prostitute or of bad character.

(2)  A licensee who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

Supply of liquor to certain persons

11.—(1)  A licensee, and an employee of a licensee, must not supply or permit to be supplied any liquor at the licensee’s licensed premises to an individual —

(a) whom the licensee or employee (as the case may be) knows, or ought reasonably to know, is drunk; or

(b) who is younger than 18 years.

(1A)  A licensee, and an employee of a licensee, must not supply any liquor to an individual who is younger than 18 years through any one or more of the following means:

(a) online (whether through an electronic commerce platform or otherwise);

(b) a telecommunication service.

[S 718/2023 wef 02/01/2024]

(1B)  A licensee, and an employee of a licensee, who supplies liquor to an individual online (other than through a third‑party electronic commerce platform) or through a telecommunication service must —

(a) warn the individual that it is an offence for the individual to buy liquor if the individual is younger than 18 years; and

(b) inform the individual about the penalty for the offence.

[S 718/2023 wef 02/01/2024]

(1C)  A licensee, and an employee of a licensee, who supplies liquor to an individual through a third‑party electronic commerce platform must not do so if the licensee or employee (as the case may be) knows, or ought reasonably to know, that the person operating the electronic commerce platform does not do any of the following:

(a) take all reasonable steps to ascertain that the individual is 18 years or older;

(b) warn the individual that it is an offence for the individual to buy liquor if the individual is younger than 18 years;

(c) inform the individual about the penalty for the offence.

[S 718/2023 wef 02/01/2024]

(2)  A licensee, and an employee of a licensee, must not permit the consumption of liquor in the licensee’s licensed premises by an individual who is younger than 18 years.

[S 718/2023 wef 02/01/2024]

(3)  An individual who is younger than 18 years must not buy or attempt to buy liquor.

(4)  A person must not buy liquor for consumption by an individual who is younger than 18 years at any licensed premises with a Class 1A, Class 1B, Class 2A, Class 2B or Class 5 liquor licence.

(5)  Any person who contravenes paragraph (1), (1A), (1B), (1C), (2), (3) or (4) shall be guilty of an offence.

[S 718/2023 wef 02/01/2024]

(6)  It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under paragraph (1)(b), (1A), (2) or (4) if the person proves, on a balance of probabilities, that the person had taken all reasonable steps to ascertain that the individual was 18 years or older.

[S 718/2023 wef 02/01/2024]

(7)  It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under paragraph (1C) if the person proves that the person, before supplying the liquor, carried out each act referred to in paragraph (1C)(a), (b) and (c).

[S 718/2023 wef 02/01/2024]

Disorderly conduct

12.—(1)  A licensee must not permit any individual to be drunk or to behave in a disorderly manner at the licensee’s licensed premises.

(2)  A licensee who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

(3)  It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under paragraph (1) if the licensee proves, on a balance of probabilities, that the licensee had taken all reasonable steps to prevent the drunkenness or disorderly conduct (as the case may be) from occurring at the licensed premises.

 

Made on 31 March 2015.

LEO YIP

Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Singapore.

[MHA PS10/12/03; AG/LEGIS/SL/163C/2015/1 Vol. 1]

(To be presented to Parliament under section 36 of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015).