Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

Sale and supply of alcohol generally - Offences and closure of premises - Other offences on licensed premises

254: Sales of spirit in vessel exceeding 500 ml

You could also call this:

“Selling spirits in big containers: you can't sell spirits in containers over 500ml to drink on the premises”

If you are in charge of a bar or work at one, you must follow a rule about selling spirits. You cannot sell spirits in a container that holds more than 500 ml to someone who will drink it on the premises. If you break this rule, you can get in trouble and have to pay a fine of up to $2,000. This rule does not apply if you are selling spirits to someone who is staying at the bar, like in a hotel, and they will drink it in their room.

You can find more information about this rule by looking at section 169 of another law. This law is about how alcohol can be sold and supplied in New Zealand. You can read about it to learn more about the rules that bars and other places that sell alcohol must follow.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3339760.

Topics:
Money and consumer rights > Consumer protection Business > Industry rules
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Part 2 Sale and supply of alcohol generally
Offences and closure of premises: Other offences on licensed premises

254Sales of spirit in vessel exceeding 500 ml

  1. The licensee or a manager of any licensed premises, or an employee of the licensee, who sells or supplies any spirit to any person, for consumption on the licensed premises, in a vessel exceeding 500 ml commits an offence.

  2. A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than $2,000.

  3. Subsection (1) does not apply to the sale or supply of any spirit to a person who is a lodger on the licensed premises for consumption in the part of the licensed premises in which that person lodges.

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