Changes to same day delivery of alcohol
The Liquor Amendment Bill 2025 aims to help our community consume alcohol safely when ordering through a same-day alcohol delivery service.
About the reform
The Liquor Amendment Bill 2025 will help reduce harm caused by same day alcohol delivery. Currently, there are no ACT laws for same-day alcohol delivery services.
If the bill passes in the Legislative Assembly, new rules for the same-day delivery of alcohol will include:
- limiting same-day alcohol delivery hours from 10am to 10pm
- introducing a 2-hour ‘safety pause’ between customers ordering alcohol and it being delivered to them
- limiting how much alcohol can be delivered in a 24-hour period
- requiring proof of identity when a someone places a same-day delivery order and when they accept the order.
The rules aim to make things clear for stores and customers to understand the law.
Other changes to reduce alcohol-related harm include:
- making it an offence for alcohol delivery providers to deliver to alcohol-free places
- requiring alcohol delivery providers to allow people to opt-out of their services
- requiring alcohol delivery providers to allow people to opt-out of direct advertising and marketing about same-day delivery of alcohol
- requiring that same-day delivery staff complete Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training for the same-day delivery market.
Changes will also create new ways to cancel liquor licenses for people who don’t pay their fees.
Venues will also have clear and consistent times for selling takeaway alcohol. This is alcohol that is taken home and not drunk at the venue.
Why it’s important
Consuming too much alcohol at home can be harmful in our community. It can lead to more emergency room visits and contribute to instances of domestic violence.
Easy and fast access to alcohol can cause harm to vulnerable people, and to same day delivery drivers. Regulating same day delivery of alcohol will help to reduce harm caused by alcohol.
Next steps
The Liquor Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced by the Attorney-General on 21 October 2025.
After it was introduced, the bill was referred to an Assembly committee for inquiry. An inquiry is a process where a committee looks more closely at a bill, seeks public feedback, and reports back to the Assembly.
The Standing Committee on Legal Affairs completed its inquiry and tabled its report on 20 February 2026. You can read more about the inquiry into the Liquor Amendment Bill 2025 on the Legislative Assembly website.
The Liquor Amendment Bill will become law after:
- it passes in the Legislative Assembly
- the ACT Legislation Register notifies it as an Act
- the Act commences.
Industry stakeholders and government both need to make changes to prepare for the new laws. There will be time between when the Legislation Register notifies the Act, and when it commences.
Community consultation
In August 2023, we asked for community feedback to help shape safer rules for same day alcohol delivery.
Over 400 people shared their views on ID checks, delivery times, and driver training. We have used the feedback to help design the Liquor Amendment Bill 2025.