Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694861521347.pdf (Fiji)
BILL NO.

16 OF 2023 A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE LIQUOR ACT 2006 ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji— 1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Liquor (Amendment) Act 2023.

Short title and commencement (2) This Act comes into force on a date appointed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.

2.
2.

The Liquor Act 2006 is amended by deleting the Schedule and substituting the Schedule amended following— 2 “SCHEDULE (Sections 30, 36 and 40) ________ PERMITTED HOURS Provision of the Act Description Permitted days and hours 1.

On-premises use Section 30(2) Hotel 2.


On-premises use Section 30(4) Tavern Private hotel Bar – open for 24 hours from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays From 11 am to 1 am daily Bar, if any, within private hotel – from 9 am to 1 am daily to guests and their bona fide guests Room service within private hotel – no restriction on guests only, and at the discretion of management 3.

On-premises use Section 30(6) 4.

On-premises use Section 30(7) 5.

Off-premises use Section 36 6.


Club use Section 40 Restaurant From 11 am to 12 midnight daily Nightclub From 5 pm until 1 am daily 8 am to 12 midnight daily 9 am to 1 am daily ”.
Liquor (Amendment)— of 2023 3 Office of the Attorney-General Suvavou House Suva July 2023 LIQUOR (AMENDMENT) BILL 2023 –––––––– EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Bill and is intended only to indicate its general effect) 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2.0 2.1 2.2 3.0 3.1 BACKGROUND The Liquor Act 2006 (‘Act’) provides for inter alia the regulation of liquor licensing and permitted hours for the sale of liquor and has generally had a direct link to the opening hours of various venues which sell liquor.
Under the Schedule to the Act, “special zones” are identified as areas in the city of Suva and township of Nadi.

In recent years, there have been numerous reports regarding brawls, robberies and attacks during the early hours in Suva and Nadi and this has also resulted in serious injury and/or loss of lives.
Therefore the Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2023 (‘Bill’) seeks to amend the Act to remove special zones which provides for the sale of liquor for extended hours in taverns, restaurants and nightclubs for areas in Suva and Nadi.

CLAUSES Clause 1 of the Bill provides for the short title and commencement.

If passed by Parliament, the amending legislation will come into force on a date appointed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.

Clause 2 of the Bill amends the Schedule to the Act to remove special zones.
MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY The Act comes under the responsibility of the Attorney-General.

S. TURAGA Attorney-General Price:52c STAR PRINTERY PTE LTD, (Government Printer), Suva, Fiji – 2023 16/A/23—160 Official Printer Since 2022