Key aspects of the government’s response to the Callinan Review will be enacted in time for the festive season with the allowances for small bars and extension of takeaway and home delivery alcohol sales to 11pm to come into effect from Friday.
The government announced last week that it would relax some of the lockout laws in response to the review, which was released in September.
Minister for Justice Troy Grant said new conditions for small bars include raising the patron limit from 60 to 100 and eligible venues in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross permitted to trade until 2am.
“We have brought forward these reforms so communities and businesses across NSW can take advantage of later trading times during the busy summer holiday period,” Grant said.
“The extension of takeaway alcohol sales from 10pm to 11pm will be closely monitored by Liquor & Gaming NSW and evaluated annually.”
The government is also progressing plans to relax lockout laws for live entertainment venues in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross following Cabinet’s approval of changes to liquor laws last week.
“Liquor & Gaming NSW is working with the industry on how venues will be able to seek exemptions to extend lockout times from 1.30am to 2am and last drinks from 3am to 3.30am,” Grant said.
“Venues will be able to start applying by the end of the year, with exemptions to be granted from 16 January 2017.”
For specialty venues in the Kings Cross and Sydney CBD precincts, applications can still be made to Liquor & Gaming NSW for exemptions to restrictions on the sale of certain cocktails and straight spirits and liqueurs after midnight.
Not all takeaway alcohol businesses and small bars will be able to trade until these new times as local development consent and trading hour conditions may restrict operating hours for individual venues. Sunday trading times will remain at 10pm.