A plan to serve free drinks at the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s new visitor centre has been put on hold.

The Liquor Licensing Authority said the Front Street premises will have to wait to see if Parliament approves the amendments to the law, which were tabled in the Senate last month by Kathy Lynn Simmons, the Attorney-General and Minister for Legal Affairs.

The Bill was designed allow owners of mobile restaurants to get licences for events and restaurant licence-holders to sell or supply alcohol at outside events.

The BTA was among several organisations that appeared before the authority last week, but was unable to get a licence.

Magistrate Maxanne Anderson said charities, such as the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, should apply for an occasional liquor licence instead.

The Government of Bermuda website said that “occasional liquor licences shall only be granted for social, charitable or benevolent purposes”.