Laws banning patrons from standing while sipping a drink on the street are to be scrapped as Australia’s most populous state tries to breathe some life back into its ailing nightlife scene.
Under current conditions, customers must be seated while drinking on the outside pavements of pubs, restaurants and cafes.
But NSW Premier Chris Minns said the “pointless” blanket ban on standing drinking was “destroying” venues and was set to be scrapped.
“Sydney’s nightlife has been strangled by bureaucracy for too long,” he said on Wednesday.
“Having an economy that kicks into gear at 5pm on weekdays is critical for global cities like Sydney.”
A simple approval process under the Liquor Act will no longer stipulate that customers must be seated to consume alcohol in outdoor areas.
The planned changes represent the latest foray into a regulatory overhaul by the state’s Labor government, in a bid to revitalise NSW nightlife following the pandemic and the lingering impact of since-removed lockdown provisions.
More than a dozen councils are looking to build specialized districts with longer trading hours for businesses, dining areas with extended sidewalks and more flexible noise restrictions to support live performances.
Laws banning patrons from standing while sipping a drink on the street are to be scrapped as Australia’s most populous state tries to breathe some life back into its ailing nightlife scene.
NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) said the “pointless” blanket ban on standing drinking was “destroying” venues and would be scrapped.
A planned change in legislation, approved by the cabinet but not yet tabled in state parliament, will also make it easier for restaurants and bars within a reasonable distance of homes to operate later in the evening.
Reforms were announced in October to make it easier for venues to host live events and harder for noise complaints to get them shut down.
At least five individual noise complaints must be registered with Liquor & Gaming NSW before an establishment can be ordered to close.
Venues offering live music have also been allowed to operate for two more hours thanks to simplified licensing laws.