The NSW Government has recently announced a range of liquor law reforms set to take effect on 14 January 2020, including lifting lockout laws in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct.
The lockout laws were brought into effect in 2014 in response to growing concerns regarding the negative effects of alcohol-fuelled violence in Sydney’s CBD, Kings Cross and surrounds. Since the introduction of the lockout laws, there have been widespread calls to overturn the legislation to allow for a less-restricted night-time economy, which is said to have cost Sydney $16m per year since the introduction of the laws. The repeal of these laws was prompted by the Joint Select Committee’s report on Sydney’s Night Time Economy which was published on 30 September 2019.
The other reforms set to commence on 14 January in response to the report include:
Extending ‘last drinks’ by 30 mins to 3:30am at venues with good records in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct;
Removing restrictions on the service of cocktails, shots and drinks served in glasses after midnight;
Relaxing Kings Cross ID scanners hours of operation;
Relaxing the remaining freeze restrictions for producer/wholesaler licences;
Extending bottle shop opening hours across NSW until midnight Monday-Saturday and 11pm on Sunday;
Increasing the patron capacity for small bars, microbreweries and small distilleries from 100 to 120 across NSW.
These changes are intended to invigorate Sydney as Australia’s “global city” and as forecasted by NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, the introduction of more public transport (namely the light-rail project) will make after-dark movement through the city safer and easier with an enhanced focus on community safety in the industry. For more information please see: