6 min read
A tasting is still one of the best ways to sell wine, beer or spirits. A shopper who tries your product is far more likely to buy it. But liquor laws in Australia are set by each state, so the rules on who can pour, how much and where change from one state to the next.
This guide is a plain-language summary for brands planning tastings and expo sampling. It is not legal advice. Always check the current rules with the store, the venue and your state’s liquor regulator before you book.
Quick answer
Tastings are allowed in bottle shops and at expos across Australia, but every state has its own rules. In every state covered here, staff who serve alcohol must have completed Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training for that state. Some states also set sample sizes, and some require approval before anyone other than the store’s own staff can pour.
The rule everywhere: RSA for that state
| State | RSA for staff serving alcohol | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW RSA competency card | Expo venues require a current card for anyone pouring samples |
| Victoria | RSA training, completed within one month of starting | Approval needed for anyone other than the licensee or its employees to supply alcohol in store |
| Queensland | RSA certificate (Queensland does not issue a card) | Expo venues set their own sample limits and approval process |
| Western Australia | RSA training expected by licensees | Sample sizes are set by regulation |
| South Australia | Approved RSA training for all staff who sell or serve | Packaged liquor licences allow sampling on the premises |
An RSA from one state is not always accepted in another. Check before staff travel to work an event interstate.
New South Wales
In NSW, staff who serve alcohol on licensed premises need a current RSA competency card. Major expo venues apply this strictly. At ICC Sydney, for example, exhibitors have been required to make sure everyone involved in alcohol sampling holds a NSW RSA competency card or a valid interim certificate, and samples are served under the venue’s liquor licence rather than the exhibitor’s.
Expo venues also set their own sample sizes. One recent ICC Sydney exhibitor guide set limits of 20 ml for spirits and 50 ml for wine or beer, with free samples only, water available and signs saying alcohol is not served to anyone under 18. Check the rules for your event, because they change from show to show.
Victoria
Victorian packaged liquor licensees can offer free tastings in their stores, inside the licensed area approved by Liquor Control Victoria. If anyone other than the licensee or its own employees is going to supply alcohol in the store, which includes a visiting brand ambassador, the licensee needs Liquor Control Victoria’s approval first.
Staff who sell or supply alcohol must complete RSA training within one month of starting. Victoria’s responsible promotion guidelines also expect licensees to make sure third parties such as brand ambassadors follow the rules, recommend running promotions before 10 pm and having food available, and require reasonable controls on anything free.
Queensland
Most people who serve or supply alcohol on licensed premises in Queensland need an RSA certificate. Queensland issues a statement of attainment rather than a card, so staff should carry a copy of their certificate.
Expo venues in Queensland set their own sampling rules. Brisbane Showgrounds, for example, has required exhibitors to apply at least 21 days before the event, to serve samples free of charge, to keep samples to 50 ml for beer, 30 ml for wine and 10 ml for spirits, and to make sure everyone serving alcohol holds an RSA.
Western Australia
WA liquor store licensees can hold free tastings when their licence allows it. The samples must be free, consumed on the premises and come from the store’s own stock. Producers and wholesalers can help run a tasting, but only if the store supervises and manages it and supplies the samples.
WA sets the sample sizes in its regulations: 50 ml for wine, 100 ml for beer and 15 ml for spirits. There is no fixed limit on the number of samples, but stores must not encourage an unsafe pattern of drinking.
South Australia
A South Australian packaged liquor sales licence allows the licensee to sell or supply liquor for sampling on the licensed premises. All staff, including volunteers, who sell, offer or serve liquor must have completed approved RSA training, and an approved responsible person must be on duty whenever the venue is open.
Why the rules matter
A tasting that breaks the rules can cost a store its licence, cost your brand its relationship with the store, and bring heavy fines. That is why bottle shops and expo venues want experienced, RSA-qualified staff they can trust.
For brands: what to expect from your tasting team
- A current RSA for the state the event is in, with proof on hand
- Small, careful pours inside the store’s and the state’s limits
- ID checks, and politely refusing anyone under 18 or intoxicated
- Knowledge of your product and the story behind it
- A report after every shift with sales, feedback and photos
For tasting staff: what is expected of you
- Get your RSA before your first shift and keep a copy on your phone.
- Check which state you are in. Your RSA may not cover an event interstate.
- Learn the store’s or venue’s rules when you arrive.
- Pour small and keep count. Limits apply to every customer.
- Check ID for anyone who looks under 25, and say no politely to anyone intoxicated.
Planning liquor tastings or expo sampling in Australia?
Buzz Promotions runs tastings with RSA-qualified staff in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Tell us your stores, venues and dates and we will plan the program.
Request a quoteFrequently asked questions
Do tasting staff need an RSA?
Yes. Anyone serving alcohol, including free samples, needs RSA training valid for the state they are working in.
Is a NSW RSA valid in Victoria or Queensland?
Not automatically. Each state has its own requirements, so check before staff work interstate.
What sample sizes are allowed?
It depends on the state and the venue. In WA the regulations allow 50 ml of wine, 100 ml of beer and 15 ml of spirits. Expo venues often set their own, smaller limits.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a plain-language summary to help you plan. Laws change, so confirm the current rules with the store, the venue and your state’s liquor regulator.
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