Small bars boosting clientele with minors
In a move aimed at encouraging licence operators to set up smaller venues and “safer” drinking holes, the smaller drinking venues will be permitted to allow minors on premises.
They’ll also be exempt from the licence freeze in place at Kings Cross and the Sydney CBD.
All of this is part of the NSW Liquor and Gaming review into small bars,
The NSW government first introduced the small bar concept four years ago.
The idea at the time was to reduce the amount of alcohol related violence and create a more diversified night life and evening economy.
Despite the lower licence fees and fewer regulatory restrictions, the uptake was limited – only 49 small bar licences are now operating around New South Wales.
One of the big criticisms has been strict limit of 60 patrons. Licence operators reckon it’s not enough.
The review has now recommended the limit be increased to 100. And it’s opened the way for parents to bring their kids in for special events and functions.
Councils are also being encouraged to speed up the approval of small bars.
And as an extra safety measure, information about banned patrons will be shared among venues. The database will be reconfigured so that police will be able to conduct searches across many venues with just a single inquiry.
All of this is now in the pipeline: Justice Minister Troy Grant says there will be a meeting with NSW MPs on the recommendations before the government would respond to them.
But Bar Florian owner Maree Cunial, who opened up the Italian wine bar in Port Macquarie nine months ago, said increasing the limit to 100 would be a good start.
“We have been calling for an increase in patron numbers just to make the business viable,” Ms Cunial told the Daily Telegraph.
“We are really busy on Friday and Saturday nights, but the other nights are quieter, so it would help cover for those periods.”
by Leon Gettler, September 22nd 2016
