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To be eligible for a liquor licence, the following criteria must be met:

• The applicant fulfils the legal requirements to be granted a liquor licence (see “Guidelines on the criteria and requirements for a person to be fit and proper to hold a liquor licence”
• The premises at which the liquor is to be supplied is in a location that is suitable for that supply.

The frameworks for the Public Entertainment licence and Liquor licence are governed by separate rules and regulations.  Approval of one licence does not imply or guarantee the approval of the other.  Applicants must apply for each licence individually and meet the respective licensing criteria and requirements. 

The application process differs depending on the type of application as follows:

Documents You Will Need

Ensure that you have the following documents on hand before you make your application for a Liquor Licence:

1. Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) certificate or Registry of Societies (ROS) certificate (if applying on behalf of societies)
2. NRIC or FIN (for non-Singaporeans with work permit) of the contact person of applicant (company)
3. Approval from the land authority:
   • Approval from HDB on the supply of liquor at the premises (for public housing); or
   • Planning permission from URA/SLA on the land use of the premises; or
   • Hawkers licence issued by NEA (for applying for a beer stall as a hawker)

Approximately three weeks from the receipt of the application and if all necessary supporting documents are enclosed. Any incomplete or incorrect submission will be rejected.

You will be notified of the outcome via SMS, email and post. In the meantime, you may login to GoBusiness to view your application status.

You will be directed to GoBusiness webpage, which will require you to sign in using your SingPass or CorpPass.

If you require assistance or guidance on the GoBusiness portal, please contact their helpdesk at +65 6336 3373 or email AskGoBiz@crimsonlogic.com.sg

The process may take around 15-20 minutes to complete.

Stipulated under Section 4(2) of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015, a liquor licence is not required in 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.

More details on exemptions from liquor licence can be found  at Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) (Exemption from Liquor Licence) Order 2015.

In the event any licensee breaches the licensing conditions and receives a Notice of Composition, please note that payment of the composition fee can be done online. Please log in using your Singpass and quote the “notice number” found on the top right corner of the Notice of Composition.

Payment for Infringement

With effect from 2 January 2024, regulation 11 of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) Regulations 2015 will be amended to regulate the supply of liquor to persons younger than 18 years, through any one or more of the following means: (a) online (whether through an electronic commerce platform or otherwise), or (b) a telecommunication service. The new requirements are as follows:

(a) A licensee, and an employee of the licensee, must not supply any liquor to an individual who is younger than 18 years online (whether through electronic commerce platforms or otherwise) or through a telecommunication service;

(b) A licensee, and an employee of the licensee, who supplies liquor to an individual online (other than through a third-party electronic commerce platform) or through a telecommunication service, must:

• warn the individual that it is an offence for the individual to buy liquor if the individual is younger than 18 years, and
• inform the individual of the penalty for the offence;

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

• take all reasonable steps to ascertain that the individual is 18 years or older;
• warn the individual that it is an offence for the individual to buy liquor if the individual is younger than 18 years, and
• inform the individual of the penalty for the offence.

A breach of regulation 11 of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) (Liquor Licensing) Regulations 2015 is an offence, punishable with a fine not exceeding $10,000.

An electronic commerce platform/an online platform which;

(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 will require a licence to supply liquor.

In addition, these electronic commerce platforms are also encouraged to put up notices warning sellers of the need to be licensed in order to supply liquor. 

Electronic commence platforms will be requested to assist the Singapore Police Force in taking down any such listings put up by these unlicensed sellers, whether they are detected by the Singapore Police Force or otherwise.

Non-public Places

Class 3A, 3B or 4 Liquor Licence Holders (including online liquor businesses) can deliver liquor beyond the liquor trading hours specified in the liquor licence if the delivery is made to a non-public place in Singapore e.g. a) Residential homes (excluding common spaces such as void decks) b) Private function rooms within privately owned premises (e.g. Condominiums) c) Private rooms in hotels and country clubs d) Office premises (to which only employees have access).

• Licensed premises: Orders for delivery of liquor to non-public places can only be taken on premises during trading hours but may be delivered after trading hours as stated on your liquor licence.
• Licence holder of an online business: Your customers can place their orders through the online service anytime and delivery after trading hours is allowed to non-public places.

Public Places

• You may deliver liquor to public places during the existing retail/wholesale trading hours under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act:
  
  • From 0700hrs to 2230hrs daily; and
  • Within a Liquor Control Zone: i. From 0700hrs to 2230hrs on Weekdays; and ii. From 0700hrs to 1900hrs on Weekends, Public Holiday and eve of a Public Holiday

Two zones in Singapore have been identified under Section 15(1) of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015 as carrying a significant risk of public disorder associated with the consumption of liquor and have separate liquor trading hours. These zones are as follows:

Liquor Control Zone	Area Image
Geylang area as described in Part 1 of the Schedule
Little India area as described in Part 2 of the Schedule

Trading Hours in the Liquor Control Zone

Trading hours in the Liquor Control Zone for licensed premises holding Class 3A, Class 3B or Class 4 Liquor licence are as follows:

You may apply for a police permit for consumption of liquor at the GoBusiness website.

Liquor Consumption Permit

Importation of liquor falls under the purview of the Singapore Customs. Relevant information is available at Liquor Import Procedure.