A risk-assessed management plan, or RAMP, sets out how a licensed venue will be managed to minimise harm from alcohol misuse and avoid adversely affecting the local area. It is lodged with certain applications and must be approved by the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming. We help you prepare a plan based on how your venue actually runs.
What a RAMP is for
A RAMP describes the management practices and procedures of a licensed premises and supports trading in line with the Liquor Act 1992. Once approved, it is a working document. You keep it onsite, make it available for inspection, display signage saying it is available, and make sure staff and crowd controllers know it and follow it.
Applications that need a RAMP
Queensland guidance lists these applications as needing a RAMP:
- A new liquor licence
- Ongoing extended trading hours
- A permanent variation of your liquor licence
- A permanent change to the licensed area
- A licence transfer
- A restricted liquor permit
- Car park approval
When a RAMP may not be needed
Some lower-risk applicants are exempt. These include florist and gift basket licence applicants, and commercial other subsidiary on-premises (meals or cafe) licence applicants whose premises will not open past midnight, is not licensed for adult entertainment, is not in a restricted area and will not adversely impact the surrounding area. If your plans for hours or entertainment may change, check the exemption again before relying on it.
What the plan needs to cover
The details should match your venue, not a generic template. Your staff have to comply with the plan, so it needs to reflect real practice.
- The principal activity of your business
- Maximum operating hours
- Responsible service of alcohol initiatives
- Participation in a local liquor accord, if applicable
- Security arrangements, such as staff numbers and when they attend
- Food: what type and when it is available
- Staff training
- Strategies to minimise noise impact on the surrounding area
How the RAMP fits your wider application
The RAMP is attached to your application when it is lodged with OLGR, so it should line up with the rest of it, including the hours you request, your licensed area and your food offer. Later changes to how you operate are lodged with OLGR for the Commissioner's approval, and OLGR can also issue a notice requiring changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every liquor licence application need a RAMP?
No. Queensland guidance lists the applications that need one and exempts some lower-risk applicants, including certain meals or cafe licence applicants that meet the listed conditions.
Can I use a RAMP template?
A template can help with structure, but the plan must address your venue's actual practices, and staff and crowd controllers must comply with it. We help you tailor it to how you operate.
What happens if my venue changes how it operates?
You can lodge proposed RAMP changes with OLGR for the Commissioner's approval. Queensland guidance warns that not advising changes to how you operate can lead to action, including fines or licence suspension.