Jimmy Brings Faces Uncertain Future Under Proposed Licensing Laws

We've all been debating the pros and cons of the NSW Government's proposed new liquor licensing laws (mostly the cons, around here) on the bars and nightlife we love. But some of the affected parties are less obvious than others, and one of these is alcohol delivery service Jimmy Brings, who have launched a petition against what they see as the well-meaning but misguided laws currently being debated by NSW politicians.

Governed by the same legislation as regular bricks-and-mortar bottle shops in NSW, Jimmy Brings is a phone and online order company that delivers alcohol to homes between 6pm and midnight. Founders Nathan Besser and David Berger believe businesses such as theirs should be exempt from the statewide proposal to close bottle shops at 10pm, a move that would result in their trading hours being cut and their business revenue halved.

In a statement introducing their petition to Premier Barry O'Farrell and Vaucluse state Liberal MP Gabrielle Upton, Besser and Berger state that whilst welcoming efforts to quell Sydney’s alcohol-related violence, "we do not believe that the proposed legislation should unfairly penalise small businesses who are promoting safe and dignified drinking within the family home."

As a company whose client-base is largely over 25 years old, they make a strong case, particularly considering that only 3.2 percent of their orders are delivered to the CBD/Kings Cross area and that responsible drinking at home arguably prevents people going out into the streets in search of booze. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Berger denied their business could be used by younger drinkers to "pre-load", explaining that their typical consumers are "people [who] have been out to a restaurant and are then going back to a house with friends or they have got friends over or are with their partner and family and they have run out of wine or beer."

Of course, the Jimmy Brings duo aren’t alone in their concerned responses to the controversial legislation. Last week we spoke to several of our favourite small bars to hear how they would be affected (read it here). The Greens will be voting against what they believe is a "knee-jerk" reaction to Sydney's violence problem, with Greens MP John Kaye telling the ABC, "We don't believe there's evidence to justify what they're doing ... We don't believe we can justify imposing on responsible late night venue goers measures that are probably going to fail.”

The music industry's also getting involved. Today the Sydney Late Night Culture Alliance launched — a banding together of key stakeholders in Sydney's music world, including MusicNSW, FBi radio, SLAM, Goodgod Small Club, Oxford Art Factory, TheMusic.com.au and inthemix. The group’s first campaign 'Keep Sydney Open', aims to specifically tackle proposed 1.30 am lockouts and 3am service cessations, which they believe will negatively affect the heart and soul of Sydney’s musical nightlife. They’re calling on other venues and organisations to join them.

To sign the Jimmy Brings petition or just have a read of it, click here.