Overview
On Sunday night, March 22, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that all non-essential indoor venues had to close the following day at midday. Gyms, cinemas, casinos, and places of worship were some of the venues on that list, as were pubs, club, bars, restaurants and cafes. And while restaurants and cafes were allowed to continue offering food via takeaway and delivery, if they're located in Queensland and hold a current liquor licence, they can now also supply alcohol using those two means as well.
Implemented by the Queensland Office of Liquor and Gaming, the change comes with one big caveat, however — which explains why it applies to restaurants and cafes, but not bars. Booze can only be added to takeaway and delivery orders that also include food, so you'll need to buy something to eat to go along with your beverage.
Also, only bottled and canned beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink tipples such as premixed spirits are available for takeaway and delivery — and a maximum of 2.25 litres of alcohol can be sold with any one food order.
E'cco Bistro by Atlanta Bell
In New South Wales, a similar move also allows bars to sell cocktails and other boozy beverages for consumption at home. At present, however, that isn't the case in Queensland — and there's no word as yet as to whether it is under consideration.
There's also no word regarding how long this change will be in effect, but it's reasonable to expect that it'll remain in place until the non-essential indoor venues are allowed to reopen, which, according to the Prime Minister, could be another six months.
To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Top image: Billykart West End.