Hon Mark Mitchell
Associate Minister of Justice
22 August 2017
Law changed to support grocery stores
Changes in the law made to enable grocery stores to continue holding liquor licences to sell alcohol despite increases
in tobacco taxes will take effect on 15 September 2017.
Associate Justice Minister Mark Mitchell says the changes were made because increases in tobacco excise tax meant some
grocery stores’ main source of revenue changed from food to tobacco products, which resulted in these stores losing
liquor licences.
Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, to hold a liquor licence, a grocery store’s principal business must be
the sale of food products.
“The increases in tobacco excise tax, which were designed to reduce smoking, were never intended to restrict grocery
stores from selling alcohol.
“To address this unintended consequence, the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Regulations 2013 have been changed so the
tobacco excise tax will be excluded from a grocery store’s annual sales revenue when determining whether the store can
hold a liquor licence,” Mr Mitchell says.
“This is a practical step that supports small grocery businesses and maintains the intended policy that these stores are
eligible to hold a liquor licence.”
ENDS