Sydney’s already diminished nightlife has been dealt yet another blow with the introduction of a new law that limits the strength of alcohol served by venues that fall within the lockout area.
From Saturday April 15, venues within the lockout zone will be banned from serving full-strength beer and standard shots of liquor after 6pm. The move is intended to limit the speed at which punters become intoxicated, with the goal of stopping alcohol-fuelled violence in the city.
READ:Sydney’s Lockout Laws Are Three Years Old, But Where Have They Got Us?
The controversial law change was among the first to be announced by newly appointed NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller.
“We have heard numerous times that the lock-out laws simply do not work,” Fuller said this morning during a press conference at Town Hall.
“I have spent the past week meeting with organisations, such as the excellent Keep Sydney Open, who assure me that restricting opening hours is hurting venues financially. This way, those affected can stay open, while Sydneysiders can enjoy drinking in moderation without the fear of being denied entry to a venue after a certain time.”
Venues in the CBD and lockout areas will be allowed to serve mid-strength beer up to a maximum of 3.5%, ‘baby shots’ of liquor, and half-sized servings of wine. The new serving standards are outlined in a new guide being distributed to all affected venues from Monday.
The new restrictions will be trialled in the current lockout law zones for a three-month period, before being extended to areas of the Inner West, the Eastern suburbs, and the North Shore.
