New small bar law will promote diversity

Minister for Hospitality, George Souris, said Government plans creating a new class of 'small bars' with a maximum of 60 patrons as part of the announced Kings Cross Plan of Management announced yesterday, would encourage investment and diversity for the industry.

"The critics of the 'small bars' legislation simply don't understand what is being proposed. It's not a matter of reducing the allowable number of patrons to existing bars currently catering to more than 60 people," Mr Souris said.

"Those licences will remain, but the new legislation will create a category of bar that would be exempt from the liquor freeze which has now been extended to three years.

"Until now, the Kings Cross entertainment precinct has a freeze of new liquor licences, including small bars of any size.

"The freeze means that no new liquor licences can be issued in the Kings Cross precinct, which has now been expanded in area to take in another 100 licensed venues."

Mr Souris said the plan was to create a new specific 'small bar' licence category limited to 60 patrons, exempt from the Kings Cross freeze, to create a different business model for the industry.

"Under the current legislation, small bars are licensed under what is known as a general bar licence on which the City of Sydney and other councils can impose a limit of 120 patrons.

"The new licence category won't change this. Councils will still be able to grant development applications for such bars. There has never been a licence category called a 'small bar', Mr Souris said.

Mr Souris said the new 'small bars' category would be introduced next year.

19 September 2012