Liquor license deep-freeze

It marks the latest attempt to curb alcohol-fuelled violence on Sydney’s streets – but it’s provoked an angry response from some of Sydney’s hottest pubs and clubs.

The government has introduced the Liquor Amendment Temporary Freeze Bill 2009 to Parliament. If passed, it will mean many hotels and clubs will be prevented from extending trading hours or upgrading their premises – anything which has the potential to increase capacity and the number of drinkers.

The Bill targets three precincts: Kings Cross, Oxford Street-Darlinghurst, and areas of Sydney’s CBD. It states that no new liquor licences for hotels, bars, registered clubs, nightclubs or liquor stores can be granted for the sites located in the freeze precincts for a 12-month period. Any development proposals aiming to extend building boundaries made on or after June 25 this year would also be banned.

Owner of Kings Cross nightclub ‘Favela’, James Moses, is outraged by the liquor law amendments, describing them as “completely unreasonable”.

“Well-managed venues should not be penalised, [they] should be able to have the right to make changes to their business as they see fit,” he said.

The government’s scheme would mean minor additions to many clubs and hotels such as rooftop bars and smoking areas would be prohibited. Moses says future plans for Favela must now be put on hold, including the possibility of introducing a smoking room.

“All [our] patrons have to pour out onto the street to smoke,” he said. “People conglomerating is likely to create issues in an uncontrolled environment.”

The proposed bill has sparked debate over what underlying problems are fuelling alcohol-related violence in these areas. Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore argues that these types of crimes increase because of “longer hours of operation” and the “size of alcohol outlets”.

She says managing late-night trading in the three precincts is becoming a challenge for police because of the high number of licensed premises.

“It’s not sustainable to allow growth of licensed premises in areas that have reached this area of saturation and cumulative impact,” she said.

But President of the Potts Point and Kings Cross District Partnership, Adrian Bartels, said the proposal would damage local business. “This inconsistent and contradictory regulatory framework will add a further unnecessary burden on businesses that are already under significant financial pressure,” he said. “There’s a huge disincentive for businesses to invest in the area with things changing day-to-day.”

President of the Darlinghurst Business Partnership Andrew Duckmanton believes that while the Government’s intentions are agreeable, the bill’s restrictions on clubs will not solve Sydney’s problem. He says the issue is a direct result of a lack of variety in our nightlife.

“It’s an absolute monoculture right now…in areas of more density, we need more diversity,” he said.

Duckmanton argues that the only real entertainment when out in Sydney’s hot-spots is “getting drunk”. Consequently, he suggests, the key to getting people to drink less and reducing alcohol-related violence is to introduce new forms of pubs and clubs.

He proposes removing some of the bigger clubs in the three precincts and replacing them with smaller and more diverse premises, such as permanent supper clubs and comedy bars.

“When there’s something else happening, people don’t drink as much and there are less fights,” he said.

The Temporary Freeze Bill has been debated in State Parliament for several weeks and seeks to freeze the precincts for the 12-month period ending June 24, 2010.

by Stephanie Jeanes