Alcohol sales have been restricted across Western Australia to prevent panic buying and stop excess drinking during the coronavirus outbreak, with limitations on how much bottle shops can sell to patrons introduced.

Key points: The limits include one carton of beer and one litre of spirits

The limits include one carton of beer and one litre of spirits The restrictions will apply initially for two weeks but may be extended

The restrictions will apply initially for two weeks but may be extended They are aimed at reducing bulk buying and alcohol-related problems

Under the new restrictions which came into force on Wednesday morning, daily limits restrict people to purchasing the following:

three bottles of wine

three bottles of wine one carton of beer, cider or pre-mix spirits

one carton of beer, cider or pre-mix spirits one litre of spirits

one litre of spirits one litre of fortified wine

But people will be able to purchase across two of those categories under the rules, which will come into force at 10:00am.

That means people would still be able to buy a carton of beer and three bottles of wine per day, for example.

A litre of spirits and a carton of beer would also be permissible.

The limits took effect on Wednesday morning at bottle shops across Perth and WA. ( ABC News: James Carmody )

The restrictions are described as being enforced as "per customer per day" in an attempt to cut down on any bulk buying of alcohol.

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Bottle shops were contacted on Wednesday morning by director of liquor licensing Duncan Ord.

"These conditions will apply to hotel, hotel restricted, tavern, liquor store, producers, club, wholesalers and special facility licenses," the advice said.

The changes will be introduced initially for a two-week period, but could be extended or changed.

Restrictions to ease strain on hospitals

Premier Mark McGowan said the restrictions were not intended to stop people having a responsible drink.

"They are relatively minor, sensible measures that will help ensure our state is in a strong position to respond to COVID-19," Mr McGowan said.

"Alcohol-related issues take up an enormous amount of resources in our health system. These are resources we simply cannot afford to spare during the COVID-19 situation.

"We expect our hospital system to be under pressure in coming weeks, and we need as many hospital staff as possible on hand to assist."

Liquor retailers are distributing flyers alerting customers to the restrictions. ( ABC News: James Carmody )

Mr McGowan also warned of the dangers of West Australians buying up large amounts of alcohol at a time where they would be staying at home for extended periods.

"This only will result in problems throughout our society that we cannot afford right now," he said.

"These are problems that will stretch our police force and only put more pressure on our hospital system."

More details about the restrictions were set to be revealed by Mr McGowan and Police Commissioner Chris Dawson on Wednesday.

Flagging the restrictions earlier this week, Commissioner Dawson said he would "exercise any emergency power to keep the community safe".

"We will consider all options depending on whether the community behave and do that in a civil way," he said at the time.

"They haven't done it with toilet paper."

Bottleshops experience 'Christmas Eve' conditions

Charlie Delpietro has run bottle shops in Perth for 45 years and said normally on Wednesday mornings he would be lucky to see more than a stray cat.

Perth bottleshop owner Charlie Delpietro said in 45 years he had never seen liquor restrictions like it. ( ABC News: James Carmody )

Mr Delpietro said on Wednesday his Mount Lawley store had dozens of phone calls before it even opened, but said years of Christmas Eves had prepared him.

"It's a new world, we've never had restrictions placed on us before," he said.

"At the Christmas period, when we usually close for one day, some people think it's the end of the world.

"This is exactly the same, some people think the world will come apart and there will be no more drink."

Restrictions will save jobs

Mr Delpietro said he supported the measures as they would prevent shelves from emptying and allow stores to stay open and keep staff on.

"If it's meant to be for the good of society, I support it 110 per cent," he said.

"It's not supposed to be about my store making more money, it's supposed to be about all of us getting together and riding this thing out.

"That means I won't have to put any staff off, and that's very important, rather than having one busy day and then nothing."

Mr Delpiertro said he expected most people would be understanding, but urged shoppers to be kind to liquor store staff.

"The law is the law, we have to abide by the law, they have to abide by the law."

"The world will not come to an end."

West Australians were on Tuesday told to cancel their holiday plans and stay home instead of travelling within the state as the Government grapples to contain the number of COVID-19 cases.

The number of confirmed WA cases of the virus stands at 205 after another 30 were recorded overnight.