Licensees invited to comment on lockouts

By Suzan Ryan, editor bars&clubs

The New South Wales Government is accepting submissions from Sydney liquor licensees on the impact the lockout laws are having on their businesses. 

The Measures to Reduce Alcohol and Drug-Related Violence, as the regulations are officially known, were passed into legislation in February, impacting on inner city venues’ operating hours, limiting public access to venues after 1am and forcing cessation of service and closure at 3pm. The laws also affect bottleshop sales, limiting sales to 10pm instead of the previously allowable midnight.

Submissions have been invited ahead of an inquiry and report on the effectiveness of the measures by the Assembly Committee on Law and Safety, with particular reference to: 

• Trends in alcohol and drug related violence in licensed venues and general street areas; 
• The impact of recent measures to reduce violence on Police, the Courts, hospitals, and the liquor industry; 
• Possible further measures to reduce alcohol and drug-related violence; and 
• The effectiveness of measures taken to reduce alcohol and drug related violence in other jurisdictions.

Public submissions can be filed on the Committee's web page until August 15.