Lawmakers review bill eyeing unified catering category

The Legislative Assembly’s Third Standing Committee continued reviewing the “Catering and Related Establishments” bill yesterday, which seeks to simplify the current five venue categories into two, combining restaurants, bars, beverage outlets, and dining venues into a single “catering establishment” class while keeping nightclubs separate due to their distinct operations.

Under the bill, restaurants and bars outside hotels would fall under the Municipal Affairs Bureau’s supervision, while hotel-based venues and nightclubs would remain regulated by the Macao Government Tourism Office.

Committee chairman Leong Sun Iok said the changes are intended to streamline the licensing process and avoid additional permits when operators run multiple types of businesses. He clarified that although the legal designation of “bar” would be removed, existing bars could continue operating under current rules, with age restrictions and alcohol-control laws enforced as before.

The bill also outlines rules for delivery services: businesses offering only delivery need to register but do not need a catering license, while venues providing both dine-in and delivery must hold the relevant license. Violations, such as placing tables for customer use without a proper permit, would be considered illegal.

Currently, Macau has 11 nightclubs and around 153 restaurants and bars outside hotels. Once passed, the Municipal Affairs Bureau will oversee an expanded portfolio of catering establishments, increasing its regulatory scope.