Notify the HSE about applying for or renewing a liquor licence

By law, you must notify the Health Service Executive (HSE) one month before you apply for or renew a liquor licence.

Notify the HSE

How you notify the HSE depends on whether your application is to the Court Service or to the Revenue Commissioners.

Please read the information under ‘Before you start’ if you are unsure where you are applying.

Applications to the Court Service

Use the Courts Service to notify the HSE's Environmental Health Office where your premises are located.

If you cannot use the courts service, notify the Environmental Health Office by email or post in the area where your premises are located.

Applications to the Revenue Commissioners

For these applications use the National Environmental Health Service online to notify the HSE.

You will need your:

• licence number for a renewal
• revenue number

Before you start

Applications to the Court Service

These are applications that need a Court Certificate:

• most publican’s licences
• all hotel licences
• special restaurant licences
• most types of off–licences
• wholesale dealers licences that include beer

Applications to the Revenue Commissioners

These are renewals under the Licensing Act or first-time applications that do not need a court certificate.

First time applications that don't need a court certificate are:

• wine retailers on licence
• wholesaler dealer in spirits, spirits of wine, wine, wine and spirits
• manufacturer’s licence:
  • brewer
  • cider manufacturer
  • compounder of spirits
  • distiller of spirits
  • rectifier of spirits
  • methylated spirits
  • sweets manufacturer

Contact us

If you have any queries please contact ehs.alcoholunit@hse.ie

What happens next

Once you have sent your notification you don’t have to do anything further.

You do not need correspondence from the HSE to progress your liquor licence application and you will not get an acknowledgement from the HSE.

The HSE can appear in court and give evidence in respect of your application.

What you need to know

Notifying the HSE is a legal requirement under Section 4 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018.

You have to notify the HSE annually with each licence application or renewal.

The grounds to object to a liquor licence are set out in Section 4 (7) or 4 (8) of the Courts (No2) Act 1986.

There is further guidance about selling alcohol in the Healthy Ireland Alcohol Policy and the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018.