Qld pubs to open early for Socceroos match with special licence
Queensland pubs to serve alcohol until 7am with special licence for Socceroos game
Licensed pubs and clubs across Queensland will be able to trade between 3am and 7am to broadcast the Socceroos match if approved. (ABC News: James Carmody)
In short:
Queensland pubs and clubs will be able to open from 3am to 7am on Saturday to broadcast the Socceroos match with a special licence.
To receive permission to trade, venues must apply by Thursday and have no outstanding licence or fee-related issues.
What's next?
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has left the door open for another special licence should Australia progress in the World Cup.
Football fans in Queensland will be able to watch the Socceroos' do or die World Cup clash against Egypt on Saturday morning at select pubs and clubs.
A trial change to license laws will allow venues to apply to the Office of Liquor and Gaming to open between 3am and 7am.
Tony Popovic's men take on an Egypt side headlined by superstar Mo Salah in the Round of 32 knockout match in Texas.
It kicks off at 4am Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said pubs, hotels, and community clubs need to apply for the special license by 2pm Thursday for approval.
Venues will need to be approved in advance by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. (ABC News: James Carmody)
"The primary purpose of trading must be to watch the game," she said.
"All the requirements of the liquor licensing and the RSA (responsible service of alcohol) will be and has to be complied with.
Ms Frecklington left the door open for another special license should Australia go through, as well as for future sporting events.
"Let's wait and see and cheer on our Socceroos on Saturday morning," she said.
"We anticipate that not every hotel or club will utilise this extension of a license, it will only be those venues that are probably well known to watch games when the Socceroos are playing."
Hundreds of fans watched the Socceroos play Paraguay at Brisbane's live site in South Bank during the World Cup's group stage. (ABC News: Liz Gwynn)
Clubs Queensland chief executive Kelly Egan said support for the green and gold was overwhelming, with four "decent sized" venues highlighting the demand.
"I know four doesn't sound like much, but if it's four, there's another 40 or 50 having the same conversation.
"They're turning people away, they've got people queued up constantly."
Venues that have outstanding issues relating to licenses or outstanding fees will not be approved for extended trading.
"It is restricted to the people who constantly do the right thing," Ms Frecklington said.
Venues that have outstanding issues relating to licences or outstanding fees won't be approved for extended trading. (ABC News: James Carmody)
Minister for Youth, Sam O'Connor, said the initiative would provide benefits to football fans and the local economy.
"It's the sort of measure that we're working through to make sure that Queenslanders can make the most of our nightlife economy, to make sure, particularly that small businesses get opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise have.
"But most importantly, it's about making sure our Queenslanders can go to their local and to back the Socceroos."
