Tonga - Obtain Liquor Licence

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Procedure

1. All application for a Liquor License is processed by the Licensing Unit which is situated in the Central Police Station, Nukualofa.
2. You may use the link provided under "Documents to Use" section to download the application form.
3. Submit the completed form together with all other required documents (see list below).
4. Pay the application fee.

License Renewal

An application for renewal must be submitted no later than 30 days before expiry of license.

Applicants will need to complete a form and submit it together with a written confirmation that the licensee has no outstanding tax obligations.

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Required Documents

Attach the following Requirements to your Application
(Permits and Reports must be valid for renewals):

• Suitability Permit (Ministry of Works)
• Fire Safety Inspection Report (Fire Dept.)
• Applicant Police Record Clearance (Police Dept.)
• Health Inspection Report (Health Dept.)
• Floor Plans/Premises Map
• Photo (x1) of applicant
• Photo (x1) of principal entrance of premises
• Certificate of Incorporation (where applicable)
• Menu (where applicable)
• Host Responsibility (House Policy)

Office Locations & Contacts

National Police Headquarters
Address:
Mauikisikisi Rd
LONGOLONGO
Nuku'alofa
Tonga.

Liqour Licensing
Phone: (676) 23-156

Eligibility

Provide eligibility criteria's for going through this procedure.

Fees

License Fees:

• Wholesale: $5,000
• Retail Bottle Store : $2,000
• Club : $3,000
• Special Events : $250
• Bar : $2,000
• Restaurant : $1,250
• Nightclub : $3,000
• Transfer : $150
• Duplicate of lost license : $100
• Late Renewal : $50

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Liqour License Application Form (PDF)

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

Liquor Licensing Authority

All application for a Liquor License is processed by the Licensing Unit who then compiles a report based on assessment of written application and physical inspection of premises. The report is then forwarded to the Licensing Authority who makes a decision whether to approve or decline the application.

There are 7 types of licenses:

1. Wholesale : for selling and delivering liquor, on wholesale only at or from a specified building, for consumption off the premises. Building must be specified in the License. Hours of sale are 8am to 6pm Mon - Sat.
2. Retail Bottle Store : authorises licensee to sell liquor from a retail bottle store. Sale must be made from a separate premises or room inside the store. Consumption is off premises. Hours of sale are 8am to 9pm Mon - Sat.
3. Club : authorises the sale of liquor by the Club ONLY to members of the club for consumption on the club premises.
4. Special Events: authorises licensee to sell liquor at any place during any special event. License is valid for 24 hours. Liquor is consumed on-premises. Other conditions may be imposed by the Authority such as: specified area for consumption, container used to serve liquor, number of persons to be served, and level of security required. Application should be made no later than 7 days before the event.
5. Bar : authorises the licensee to sell liquor from a 'bar' to be consumed; at the bar, at a designated area within proximity of the bar; or in a guest room in accommodation where the bar is located. A 'Bar' is a place where liquor is sold or served to customers, and shall be located separately from any area used as a restaurant or common area. Hours of sale are: Mon - Fri: 10am to 1230am the following day, no patron is to remain on the premises after 1am. Sat: 12pm to 1130pm, no patron is to remain on premises after 12am Sunday.
   No Liquor is to be sold under a Bar License on Sunday, Good Friday or Christmas, except if liquor is sold to a guest of a accommodation where the bar is located (i.e. Hotel, Resort). Such liquor can only be sold between 12pm to 9pm.
6. Restaurant : authorises the licensee to sell liquor on the premises for consumption on-premises to any person who partakes of a substantial meal cooked on the premises. Hours of sale are: Mon - Sat 11am to 11pm, Sun 11am to 9pm. Whichever day Good Friday and Christmas falls on similar hours apply.
7. Night-Club : authorises the licensee to sell liquor at a night-club for consumption on-premises. Hours of sale are: Mon - Fri: 8pm to 1230am the following day, no patron is to remain on the premises after 1am the following day. Sat: 8pm to 1130pm, no patron is to remain on the premises after 12am on Sunday.
   No sale of liquor is permitted between the hours of 1130pm of the previous day and 12 midnight on any Sunday, Good Friday or Christmas.

Required Information

• Reason for Application
• Type of licence you are applying for
• Details of applicant/company/partnership
• Premises details

Need for the Document

This procedure provides you information on how you can obtain a Liquor License in Tonga.

Information which might help

Applications will be considered with regard to:

• Suitability of applicant
• Extent to which liquor is already available in the area to which application applies
• Selling hours proposed
• Likely health and social impact on community if license is granted
• Compliance of applicant with health, sanitary, fire and building standards including hygiene, adequacy of toilets, fire safety measures and structural soundness of building
• Desirability of limiting number of licenses to limit negative community impact of alcohol-related harm
• Views of persons directly affected by the application
• Steps proposed to be taken by applicant to ensure sale to underage children is observed
• Steps proposed to be taken by applicant to prevent acts of violence and disorder on or in the immediate vicinity of premises
• Steps to ensure reasonable consumption of liquor in the premises and maintained
• Proposal by applicant for the sale of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages and food
• Provision of assistance or information about alternative means of transport from the premises

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Tonga Police

Others

More information which might help people.