In order to sell alcohol in a bar, restaurant or in a business place, the individual must acquire a valid licence under the Spirit Licence Act.

There are various types of spirit licences, including a town retail licence, a tavern licence, a hotel licence, a club licence, a wholesale licence and an occasional special licence. The individual must identify what kind of licence is needed for the establishment (Reference to the Spirit Licence Act will help you to determine this).

Once the type of licence needed is known, here is what you do to get the licence:

1) Visit the Resident Magistrate's Court in your parish to make an application to the Clerk of Court. You will also need to submit a copy of this application to the superintendent of police in your area.

Your written application should state:

a) the nature of the licence applied for;

b) a full description of the premises;

c) whether you have ever held a licence;

d) whether the premises have been licensed for the 12 months preceding the application;

e) whether you are able to read and write English and keep account books in English;

f) whether you have been convicted of any offence against the Act in the last five years.

2) Make an application to the Public Health Department.

3) Pay the licence duty and stamp duty on the licence at the Inland Revenue Department.

4) Submit forms and await date of hearing.

Applicants need to be clear on the date of the next hearing and deadlines for submission of application. The application submission must be made at least 21 days before one of the fixed dates for application hearings. The individual must visit the court session to be granted the licence.

If successful in your application, you'll be contacted by the clerk within approximately 14 days from the date of the granting of the licence, and on presentation of the receipt from the Collector of Taxes.

The licence may be refused by the Licence Authority if the premises are deemed unfit or are so situated that it cannot be kept under police control. Also, if the applicant is of bad character, or has allowed his licensed premises to become a nuisance, a licence may also be refused.