Can a halal-certified restaurant still serve alcohol?

No. Halal certification through recognised Australian bodies like ICCV requires that alcohol is not served on premises. The good news is that the non-alcoholic beverage market is booming. ANZ reported that zero alcohol beer sales in Australia are projected to almost double from 150 million litres to around 300 million litres by 2028. Non-alcoholic beer already accounts for about 10 percent of all beer sales.

How do I replace alcohol revenue after going halal?

Restaurants are replacing alcohol revenue with non-alcoholic beer like Heaps Normal, house-made mocktails, and premium zero-proof cocktails priced at $16 to $20. According to Entegra research cited in industry coverage, Australian venues with around $2 million annual turnover saw an average $95,000 annual revenue increase after expanding their non-alcoholic offering. Gen Z and Millennials are drinking significantly less, which makes this a structural shift not a niche.

How do I get halal certified in Australia?

The process typically involves choosing a recognised Australian certifier like ICCV, AFIC, HCAA, SICHMA, or Halal Australia, submitting an application with supplier documentation and menu details, passing an on-site audit, and signing an ongoing certification agreement with annual renewal. ICCV in particular has operated since 1992 and is the largest Australian halal certification body, covering both domestic and export markets.

What is HalalHQ partnership with ICCV?

HalalHQ is establishing a partnership with the Islamic Co-ordinating Council of Victoria (ICCV) to help Australian restaurants move through halal certification more easily. ICCV is currently finalising its restaurant certification framework and supporting resources, so the program is not open for new applications yet. Restaurants can register their interest with HalalHQ now to join the priority list, and we will call them once ICCV is ready to onboard restaurants. Express interest by emailing partner@halalhq.io.

Will going halal limit my non-Muslim customer base?

Not in the way most owners fear. Halal simply means no pork and no alcohol, with meat sourced from certified suppliers. Most menu items remain unchanged. According to Gallup 2025 polling, only 50 percent of young adults now drink alcohol, down from 59 percent just two years earlier. A thoughtful mocktail and zero-alcohol beer menu often attracts more diners than it deters, especially in younger and health-conscious markets.

How much does halal certification cost in Australia?

Costs vary by certifier, business type, and whether the restaurant also supplies export markets. Wikipedia notes that certification fees are typically modest and depend on the product, the certifier, and the intended market. ICCV is still finalising its restaurant certification program, including pricing for venue audits. The best approach is to register your interest with HalalHQ now and we will share tailored ICCV pricing once the program opens.

Business·April 18, 2026·9 min read

Halal Certification for Restaurants in Australia: Register Interest with the HalalHQ x ICCV Partnership

Q: Is halal certification worth it for an Australian restaurant?

The Australian halal market was valued at AUD 15.26 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach AUD 27.59 billion by 2035, according to Expert Market Research. The 2021 Census (ABS) recorded 813,392 Muslims in Australia, and analysis by Professor Mehmet Ozalp estimated the population would surpass one million by end of 2024. For restaurants in high-density Muslim areas like Western Sydney, Northern Melbourne, and Southeast Melbourne, certification unlocks a large, under-served, loyal customer base.

Halal certified restaurant in Australia: plated Middle Eastern dishes ready for service

Halal certification for restaurants in Australia is opening up a $15 billion market, but the path is full of myths. This guide covers the certification process, what it costs, the alcohol question every owner asks, and how to register your interest with the HalalHQ x ICCV (Islamic Co-ordinating Council of Victoria) partnership so we can call you the moment ICCV opens restaurant certification.

HalalHQ x ICCV partnership

We are establishing a direct partnership with ICCV. Restaurant certification is not open yet because ICCV is still finalising the framework and resources. Register your interest now to join the priority list, and we will call you the moment ICCV is ready to onboard restaurants.

$15.26B

Australia halal market

1M+

Muslims in Australia

$27.6B

Projected by 2035

Is Halal Certification Worth It for an Australian Restaurant?

The numbers tell a clear story. Expert Market Research values the Australian halal market at AUD 15.26 billion in 2025, with a forecast of AUD 27.59 billion by 2035 at a 6.10 percent compound annual growth rate. The customer base is already large and growing fast. The 2021 Census from the Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded 813,392 Muslims in Australia, up by more than 209,000 from 2016. Analysis by Professor Mehmet Ozalp estimated that the Australian Muslim population would surpass one million by the end of 2024.

Geography matters for restaurants. According to ABS Census data, 42 percent of Australian Muslims live in Greater Sydney, 31 percent in Greater Melbourne, and 8 percent in Greater Perth. New South Wales has the highest share at 3.58 percent of state population, with Victoria close behind at 3.32 percent. Restaurants in suburbs like Lakemba, Auburn, Bankstown, Broadmeadows, Dandenong, and Coburg sit inside very dense halal-demand catchments. For a new halal option in those areas, awareness spreads fast through community networks and WhatsApp groups.

Reputation also compounds. A halal listing on HalalHQ feeds into search, maps, and community reviews. Restaurants that commit to certification usually find their word-of-mouth and repeat-visit economics strengthen within the first year.

Proof point: Grill d went halal in Blacktown

SBS Food reported that Grill d, one of Australia largest gourmet burger chains, opened its first halal-certified restaurant in Blacktown, NSW. The location sources all meat from halal-certified suppliers, removed bacon from certain burgers, and does not serve alcohol. It was a deliberate bet on the Western Sydney halal catchment and has influenced how major chains think about halal conversion.

Halal Certification and Alcohol: Can a Halal Restaurant Make Money Without a Bar?

This is the question every restaurant owner asks first. Alcohol is often the highest-margin category on the menu, and there is genuine anxiety about losing non-Muslim regulars who expect a wine or a beer with dinner. The honest answer is that yes, halal certification through recognised Australian bodies requires alcohol to come off the menu. The much more interesting answer is that the Australian drinks market has shifted so dramatically in the last three years that going alcohol-free is now a commercial opportunity, not a commercial risk.

ANZ reported in 2024 that Australian zero alcohol beer sales are projected to almost double, from 150 million litres to around 300 million litres by 2028. Non-alcoholic beer already accounts for around 10 percent of all beer sales and 45 percent of total non-alcoholic beverage sales. Heaps Normal, the flagship Australian zero alcohol brewery, is now stocked in more than 2,000 pubs, bars, restaurants, and bottle shops nationwide, and Broadsheet reported its Quiet XPA won World Best No and Low Alcohol Pale at the World Beer Awards in 2022.

The customer side tells the same story. According to Gallup 2025 polling, only 50 percent of young adults reported drinking alcohol, down from 59 percent just two years earlier. Entegra research cited in industry coverage found that venues generating around two million dollars annually saw an average ninety-five thousand dollar lift in revenue after properly expanding their non-alcoholic program. Far from losing revenue, many venues gain it.

Social pressure vs customer reality

Owners often tell us they feel pressured by non-Muslim diners who expect alcohol. The data suggests that pressure is outdated. Millennials and Gen Z increasingly want the option to not drink, and restaurants with a thoughtful zero-alcohol menu are winning exactly that crowd. If your venue becomes the best mocktail spot in the suburb, you inherit two markets at once.

How Do You Replace Alcohol Revenue After Going Halal?

The playbook is actually fun to execute. Build a beverage program that stands on its own merits rather than treating it as a compromise. Here are four categories that consistently punch above their weight in Australian halal venues.

Zero-alcohol beer on tap

Heaps Normal Quiet XPA, one of Australia most awarded zero alcohol beers, is already stocked in over 2,000 Australian venues. Broadsheet reported Quiet XPA won World Best No and Low Alcohol Pale at the World Beer Awards 2022. Pairs with Middle Eastern, Turkish, Indian, and Lebanese menus without fuss.

Signature mocktails

Premium venues in Sydney and Melbourne are charging $16 to $20 for zero-proof cocktails built on botanical spirits, house syrups, and quality mixers. A signature mocktail menu is one of the fastest revenue wins when rolling out a halal conversion.

Specialty tea and coffee

Turkish coffee, Arabic coffee with cardamom, karak chai, Moroccan mint tea, matcha, and hot chocolate all carry strong margins and give guests a reason to linger and order dessert.

Freshly made juices and lassis

Mango lassi, watermelon juice, sugarcane juice, tamarind cooler, and pomegranate refresher upsell better than soft drink and feel native to most halal cuisines. Market them as house specialties rather than afterthoughts.

Pro tip: price mocktails like cocktails

Sydney and Melbourne venues are successfully charging $16 to $20 for premium zero-proof cocktails. Present them on a dedicated page, give them a narrative, and photograph the glassware. Treat them as hero menu items and guests pay cocktail prices without friction.

The HalalHQ x ICCV Partnership: How It Helps Australian Restaurants Get Halal Certified

HalalHQ is establishing a direct partnership with the Islamic Co-ordinating Council of Victoria (ICCV), the largest Australian halal certification body. Our goal is to make the certification journey less intimidating for restaurant owners who have been sitting on the fence.

Why ICCV

ICCV was established in 1992 by mosques and societies in Victoria and has grown into the largest halal certification organisation in Australia. They are a not-for-profit and cover both the domestic market and exports to major international markets. Inclusion on their certified client list is one of the strongest trust signals a restaurant can carry.

Visit iccv.com.au

Register your interest with HalalHQ

Submit the interest form or email [email protected] with your restaurant name, location, and cuisine. We log your interest and add you to the ICCV partnership priority list.

ICCV finalises the restaurant certification program

ICCV is currently building out the schema, supplier checks, and audit framework specifically for restaurants. While that work is in progress, restaurant certification is not open for new applications.

We call you when the program opens

Once ICCV is ready to onboard restaurants, we call you directly to walk through a quick readiness check (supplier list, menu, venue setup) and to introduce you to ICCV for their formal application.

Certification, listing, and launch

Once certified, your restaurant can display the ICCV mark, list on HalalHQ as a verified halal venue, and roll out a refreshed non-alcoholic beverage program to your guests.

Register Interest: Halal Certification for Australian Restaurants via HalalHQ x ICCV

The registration is intentionally light-touch. Restaurant certification is not open yet because ICCV is still finalising the framework, so this form is purely to register interest. Once the program opens, we will call you directly to start the readiness check and the ICCV introduction. There is no obligation at the interest stage and no action needed in the meantime. Share as much or as little about your business as you want.

Prefer email? Reach us at [email protected].

Halal Restaurant Certification in Australia: FAQ

Ready to Get Halal Certified in Australia?

ICCV is still finalising the restaurant certification program, so applications are not open yet. Email us at [email protected] or use the form above to join the priority list. We will call you the moment ICCV is ready to onboard restaurants. No obligation at the interest stage.

Go to Interest Form Read the Full Certification Guide

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