NSW: How a simple change to ‘useless law’ is expected to ‘fire up’ city’s dead nightlife after 5pm

Laws that ban customers from standing on the street to drink are being scrapped, as Australia’s most populous state tries to revive its struggling nightlife.

Under current circumstances, guests must sit on the pavements outside pubs, restaurants and cafes while drinking.

But New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the “unhelpful” blanket ban on standing and drinking alcohol was “destroying” hospitality venues and was set to be lifted.

“Sydney’s nightlife has been held back by bureaucracy for too long,” he said on Wednesday.

‘An economy that gets going at 5pm in the afternoon is essential for global cities like Sydney.’

A simple approval process under the Alcohol and Catering Act will no longer prescribe that guests may consume alcohol while seated in outdoor areas.

The planned changes are the latest step in a regulatory overhaul by the Labor state government in a bid to revive NSW’s nightlife scene following the pandemic and the ongoing impact of now-lifted lockdown measures.

More than a dozen municipalities want to create special districts with longer opening hours for businesses, more spacious catering facilities and more flexible noise standards to allow for live performances.

A planned change in the law, approved by the cabinet but not yet submitted to state parliament, will make it easier for restaurants and bars located a reasonable distance from homes to stay open later in the evening.

In October, reforms were announced to make it easier for venues to host live events and harder to close venues due to noise pollution.

A minimum of five individual noise complaints must be registered with Liquor & Gaming NSW before a venue can be closed.

Thanks to simplified licensing legislation, locations where live music is played may also remain open for two hours longer.