24/06/2026
What's the strangest alcohol licensing myth you've heard?
Over the years, I've heard a few. 😊
"You can transfer a liquor licence to a new owner when you buy a business."
"If nobody objects, the licence is automatically granted."
"A bottle store can sell whatever it wants as long as alcohol is part of the business."
"My licence renewals have always been approved, so this renewal can't be challenged."
The reality is that alcohol licensing is full of assumptions that get passed from one owner, manager, or industry colleague to the next.
Sometimes those assumptions are harmless.
Sometimes they can lead to costly mistakes, delays, or a lot of unnecessary stress.
One of the most common things I see is people relying on what worked for someone else, in a different area, under different circumstances, and assuming the same outcome will apply to them.
But alcohol licensing is rarely that simple.
Every application has its own facts.
Every premises has its own context.
And every licensing decision turns on the specific circumstances in front of the decision-makers.
That's one of the things that makes this area of law so interesting.
No two applications are ever quite the same.
So I'll throw the question out there:
What's the biggest alcohol licensing myth or misconception you've heard in the hospitality or alcohol retail industry?
