Sydney's Bars, Restaurants and Cafes Can Now Deliver Cocktails Directly to Your Doorstep
The NSW Government has temporarily lifted its restrictions on licensed venues offering takeaway and delivery alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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. While restaurants and cafes were allowed to continue offering takeaway and delivery food, bars without a separate off-premise liquor licence didn't have a way of continuing to make an income.
To help fix this, Liquor & Gaming NSW has temporarily lifted its restrictions on takeaway and home-delivery alcohol. In a statement released on Monday, March 23, the regulatory body said that due to the "unprecedented pressures on industry" during the COVID-19 pandemic, it would take a "supportive and educative approach" to licensed venues — such as small bars, cafes and restaurants — selling alcohol for consumption at home without the appropriate licence.
Big Poppa's by Kitti Gould
"The COVID-19 pandemic has created an exceptional set of circumstances and will have significant impacts on the businesses we regulate," Liquor & Gaming NSW said in the statement. "Not all licensed premises are authorised to sell alcohol for consumption off the premise. In these circumstances, Liquor & Gaming NSW will take a common-sense and pragmatic approach to enforcing the liquor and gaming laws. In particular, it is recognised that the risk profile of certain venues has changed and measures put in place to manage these risks are, in the current environment, largely redundant."
It has said it'll step in "in cases of significant risks to patrons or the community" and says venues offering takeaway and delivery should have a system in place to ensure alcohol is not sold to minors or intoxicated people.
The lifted restrictions are expected to remain in place until the non-essential indoor venues are allowed to reopen, which, according to the Prime Minister, could be another six months.
Top image: Arcadia by Kitti Gould
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