Post COVID-19, the NSW Government will relax late night trading and lift the long-standing freeze on new liquor licences across Sydney’s CBD.
The new changes will help re-energise Sydney’s 24-hour economy to allow venues including pubs, clubs, hotels and bottle shops to adjust service offerings to meet with customer demand.
As more COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease, changes to late night trading will also allow new venues to open up and help improve Sydney’s nightlife.
It is expected that the NSW Government will allow applications for new licences later in 2020, following public consultation.
The licence freeze came into effect as part of measures to target alcohol-related harm in areas with high concentrations of liquor businesses.
This prevented grants for any new licences for hotels, nightclubs, registered clubs and liquor shops across Sydney’s CBD and Kings Cross.
Existing licensees have been restricted from extending late night trading, with most venues making changes to their licensed boundaries and patron capacity.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said trading restrictions for existing venues ended on 1 June 2020, and the NSW Government is working with stakeholders on a framework for approving new licences.
“In some CBD locations, this will be the first time in 11 years that applications for new venues will be considered. These changes will kick-start a new era in Sydney’s 24-hour economy,” Mr Dominello said.
Interim guidelines will be prepared for existing businesses to help manage the risks of alcohol-related harm and identify eligible locations for applications.
