FACT SHEET

2014 reforms for liquor regulation in NSW

On 30 January 2014, the NSW Parliament passed the Liquor Amendment Bill 2014 which will implement a package of new reforms to tackle alcohol-related violence
The Liquor Amendment Bill 2014 will amend the Liquor Act 2007 and the Liquor Regulation 2008 to: declare the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct and impose conditions on licensed premises within its boundaries enable the future declaration of other precincts in NSW, which will allow regulatory conditions to be imposed on licensed premises within a precinct create a freeze on most new licences and approvals for premises in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct enable police to issue troublemakers with temporary banning orders, prohibiting them from entering most licensed premises in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct enable police to apply to the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority for a long term banning order for more serious troublemakers in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct impose a new 1.30am lockout time and 3am last drinks on venues in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct and Kings Cross Precinct stipulate that the 1.30am lockout and 3am last drinks provisions apply to declared premises in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct and Kings Cross Precinct enable the suspension or revocation of RSA competency cards held by staff in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct, or the disqualication of staff from holding a competency card for up to 12 months enable annual risk-based licence fees to be levied for liquor licences prohibit liquor stores, including online operators, and other venues from selling take-away liquor anywhere in NSW after 10pm, and suspend the operation of the online Responsible Service of Alcohol training trial. This fact sheet outlines the reforms and the responsibilities for businesses and staff affected by the changes. Some rules will take effect as soon as the legislation commences, which will occur shortly. Other rules will come into force later. been made to improve the integrity of online certication. Provided a student has successfully completed an online RSA training course before the suspension period, the registered training organisation (RTO) can grant an interim RSA certicate to the student, which will allow them to obtain their competency card. However the RTO should not enrol any new student in an online RSA training course, or accept enrolment fees from new students or promote the availability of an online RSA training option. Access to the online course must be discontinued for all students, including any who have enrolled and either not completed or not commenced the course. An RTO can continue to offer and conduct RSA courses on a classroom basis while online RSA training is suspended. Rules to commence in 2015 Annual risk-based licensing fee scheme A risk-based licensing fee scheme will be introduced, under which licensed venues will be levied an annual fee. The scheme will be modelled on the well-established schemes operating in Victoria and Queensland. It will enable fees to be levied according to a range of factors including: the location of a licensed premises the trading hours for the premises the patron capacity of the premises offences committed at or in relation to the premises compliance by the licensee with the requirements of the liquor laws. The Government will publish details about the scheme later in 2014. January 2014 v.1404
1 of 3

New rules for liquor licences and industry training across NSW
Rules for commencement shortly No take-away liquor sales after 10pm There will be a new state-wide 10pm closing time, every day of the week, for all bottle shops and liquor stores. This rule will also apply to the sale of take-away liquor sold in clubs and hotels, including take-away sales over the bar, as well as packaged liquor sales in liquor stores, supermarkets and grocery stores. For licensees that provide liquor deliveries as part of their business model, liquor orders cannot be fullled (picked and/or packed) after 10pm, and liquor must not be delivered after 10pm. Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training The current trial of online RSA training will be suspended until changes have

2014 reforms for liquor regulation in NSW

New rules for venues and staff in the Sydney CBD
Rules for commencement shortly The Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct A new Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct will be created to better address signicant alcohol-related issues and anti-social behaviour in the Sydney CBD. The Precinct stretches from Kings Cross to Cockle Bay, The Rocks, Haymarket, parts of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst. Venues within this precinct, excluding small bars, restaurants and tourism accommodation establishments, will be subject to new rules. Bars in tourism accommodation establishments which are accessible from the street are not exempt from the rules applying to the Precinct. Variations can be made to the boundaries of the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct if necessary. The Government can also establish new precincts as required in other areas of NSW which are experiencing high levels of alcohol-related problems. A map of the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct is provided on page 3. The existing Kings Cross Precinct will continue. Most conditions already imposed on venues in the Kings Cross Precinct are unaffected. Lock out of new patrons at 1.30am Clubs, hotels, general bars and on-premises licences relating to public entertainment (other than a cinema or theatre) and karaoke venues, within the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct or the Kings Cross Precinct, must not let people into their venue between 1.30am and 5am Monday to Saturday. In the case of Sunday morning, these venues must not admit patrons between 1.30am and 5am or the authorised opening time, whichever is later. This rule will also apply to any declared premises in these precincts. People already in a venue before 1:30am can stay until the close of business. They are able to leave at any time, but if they leave after 1.30am, they cannot re-enter that venue during the lockout period, or gain entry to any other venue subject to the lockout. Last drinks at 3am Clubs, hotels, general bars and onpremises licences relating to public entertainment (other than a cinema or theatre) and karaoke venues, within the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct, or the Kings Cross Precinct, must not sell or supply liquor after 3am, which is the start of the liquor sales cessation period. This requirement does not apply to venues exempt from the Precinct. If a venue was authorised to sell or supply liquor after 3am prior to the reforms, the venue can remain open (but subject to the lockout) for other purposes, such as dining or entertainment, but must not serve liquor. Liquor sales cannot resume until the commencement of the next trading period, which is 5am Monday to Saturday, or in the case of Sunday morning, it is 5am or the authorised opening time, whichever is later. Freeze on new liquor licences A freeze will be imposed on the grant of specied types of new liquor licences and approvals, and on the grant of development consent, for premises in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct. The new freeze will operate for two years. It will complement the freezes that are in place for the Kings Cross and the Oxford St Darlinghurst Precincts, and operate along similar lines. The existing Kings Cross Precinct and Oxford St Darlinghurst Precinct freezes will be extended to the same date. Banning orders Banning order provisions that were introduced for the Kings Cross Precinct in December 2013 are being extended to the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct. Police can issue a temporary banning order to a person for 48 hours where the person refuses to comply with a move-on direction issued by police, or where the person has been refused admission to or asked to leave licensed premises. Temporary banning orders will prevent entry to all licensed premises in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct, except low risk restaurants that do not trade after midnight. In more serious circumstances, Police can apply to the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority for a long-term banning order to be issued for up to 12 months. Long-term banning orders will prevent entry to all high risk venues in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct. Revocation of competency cards The legislation will enable the Authority to suspend, revoke or disqualify a person from holding an RSA competency card, for up to 12 months, where the person is employed in a licensed venue in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct. This action can be taken where the Authority considers the person has contravened obligations that relate to the responsible service of alcohol. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply if a person with a suspended competency card, or a person who has been disqualied from holding a competency card, works in any capacity in a New South Wales licensed premises. Penalties of up to $2,200 apply if a competency card is not surrendered to the Authority. As a protection for licensees, a licensee does not commit an offence January 2014 v.1404

2 of 3

2014 reforms for liquor regulation in NSW

if they employ a person who has had their competency card revoked or disqualied, if the person still holds a competency card that appears to be current, and the licensee is satised that the card is current. Rules to commence later in 2014 Additional licence conditions Special licence conditions will be imposed on venues in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct. These conditions could include bans on the use of glass and shots after midnight, restrictions on patrons wearing outlaw motorcycle gang apparel, and a requirement to use RSA marshals, and CCTV systems. The conditions will be developed through a Plan of Management in consultation with stakeholders, and will come into force later in 2014.
Merriman St

Map of the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct

Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct Kings Cross Precinct
0 Metres
To w n

(commenced December 2012) 250

H
sP la ce

ic

ks

on

oa

Lo

er
y Av

Fo

rt

H ig

Windmill Street

hw

ay

S tr

ee

Tri nit

Argyl e

Stree t

B ra

Argyle Place

df ie

ld

D is

tr ib

High St

ut or

Cu mb

erl an

d St ree

te rn

W es

S tr

ee

Phillip Street

St re

G eo

et

x Str ee

St re

te r

Pitt Stree t

uc

rri ng

G lo

to n

Ha

La

ng

Gresham St

Loftus St

Bridge Street

Young St

LANG LANG P PARK ARK e e t tr

Jamison Street

Grosvenor Street

cQ

Dalley Street

ua

ri e

P la

ce

Bridge Street

Bond Street

on

WYNYARD PARK

Street

B lig

illi p

Carring ton

Street

Georg e Street

Street

arf

Wynyard Street

Stree t

Erskine Street

Ca hi

ll Ex pr

es sw

ay

Ro
M

CHIFLEY SQUARE Hunte r Stree t

Castle reagh

Phillip Street

ad

wa
ac

SHAKESPEARE PLACE

Ph

Macqu arie

Pitt Street

Wh

Barrack

Street

Elizab eth

y
er
THE DOMAIN
Art Gallery of NSW
t Ga lle ry Rd

Hunt er

Stree t

S tr

S tr

St re

ee

TH

nt

ee

et

Margaret Street

ne

ll

tr e

et

Sp

ri n

St

Bent St

FARRER PLACE

R O YAL B O TANIC G AR DENS

Be

WOOLLOOMOOLOO BAY

DO

es

A IN

rg e

et

wp

Western Distributor Fwy

Pitt St (Mall)

lum St

Albert

Plun kett

lum Lane

George Street

Castle reagh

Pitt Street

Elizab eth

Roa d

s Stree t

am St

gh

College Street

Da

Stree t

ll e

Stre et

k St

Rile y

St

Stre et

Stree t

Ward Ave

Chape

Harbour

Stre et

l Street

Stre et

Fra n c i s S treet

Stre et

re

ll A ve

R os

F ar

eb

HYDE PARK

Stan ley

Stre et

nu

Ki ng s
ys nn Pe

La

PARK

Yuro ng

T UM BAL O NG

Wil liam
St Pete rs Stre et

Brough

Bro ugh

Bathu rst
Susse x Street

rl in

S tr

Stre et

Bay swa
ne
Goderi ch

Ke

Stree t

Ke

am Lane

tt

lle

Mansi on

tt

Pl

Ln

ter Roa d
R os

an

Cr os s
Stre et
y La

Lane

R os

ee

Bathu rst Stree t

Kent Street

u rs

Willia

m Lane

ly n

Wil liam

Stre et

Stree t

Ke l le

For further information, visit www.olgr.nsw.gov.au

Earl Street

Stre et

Pal mer

tr n Di s Wester

tR

Stre et

Corfu

tt W a y

R os

ly

n nL

Cle me

Rd

G ar

We

oa

ste rn

Sutt or

E ar

Ba

Dis

rn

trib

ib

de ns

lP

cl e

uto r

ut

Mce lhon

or

la

Fw y

Rile y

Par k Stre et

Yu

Park Stree t

e Stre et

Fw

Stre et

Sprin gfiel

rkw

Druit

Street

Dow ling

ro

Ba
th

ng

Birt l

Houri gan

rn

ce

Ln

cle

u th

Sq

ua

ey

l Stre et

Vi ct or

C OOK & P H ILLIP PARK

Stre et

Wh arf

Forbe

ay

d Av

Cath edra

St

Lane

Wind eyer

Pl

SYLVIA CHASE SQUARE

Bou rke

Cro wn

Cathe

d r al St

Rowe

ia St

More information

College Street

Street

Pring St

Tu scu

Tuscu

un

t Marke t Stree

en

Market Street

St.

St

Stre et

re

sc

Ma

ry

Ma nni ng

St

Street

hn

Stre et

Stre et

Hughe

HYDE PARK

Step hen

s Ln

Harm er

Jo

Stre et

Hug hes
St
Sydn ey Pl na Pl

St

G re en
Bar

Cric k

Av

Yo

S ir

Orwe ll

Stree t

Cro wn

Pal mer

ll Place

Harg rave

Bou rke

on

Ro

Crai gend
Stre et

e Str ee

For bes

Burne

n Pla ce

Kir

St

Liverpool Street

Elizab eth Street

Nimr od

Ge org

Pitt Str eet

Castle reagh

ur st

en

lin gh

Burto

Stree t

Stre et

D ar

tw

ne

Dar ley

Gou lbu

Street

St

Norma

n Street

s La

V ic to ri

en

Little

tor

isb

Br

Fo

lic an

Street

Little

Hay St

Dist ribu

Hard ie

le

y S tr

St

S tr

Thom son

em

an

S tr

la r

Langl ey

rn Stre et

o rt

ol Stre et

Stre et

n Stree

Live rpo

a St

P i er

ue

St r

R oa

Tho m

so

eet

WHITLAM SQUARE

Searl e

k et

ad

Stree t

Sur rey
Su

rre

St
ne

Wo
Wo

me

Av

rah
Ln

Av en

ue
nu e

ys

ee

P op

me

rah

ee

Darle y

Place

Ba rco

m Ave

nue

Pe

Str eet
ee t S tr

Br

is ba

ne

Di llo
Gl en vie

Dil

St

Stre et

r St

rg e

tR

h St

or

st er

re et

Batman Lane

Ryde

Smith Street

Samuel Street

Beauchamp Lane

e et

Par ker

ct

n St

tS tr

Stre et

Geo

Vi

El iz ab et

field St

Rile y

Crow n

Little Broom

St

B o u rk

we ll

re et

Do w

Ho pe

Ln

lk

y St re

lth

w ea

ds Pl

S ou th

re et

Floo

Hopeto un

Union Ln

St

Stree t

Little Riley Street

e rs

Corb en

Orm ond

Stre et

Ch

et

S tr

Bou rke

St re

ro y

a lm

Street

ee

Nic hols

Churc

h Stree t

Un

io

ax

F itz

Albio n

Aven ue

ee t

Br od

Be

St

Broadway

lv ue

Ki pp

St

Fitzr

oy Plac

Stre et

or d

S tr

Y ou

Hee ley

S tr

O xf

ie St

ng

Be

St

Belm

ore PL

Du

Elizabeth Street

Stree t

nt

der

W at

rs Stre et

Ma rtin

t St

Teggs Ln

St

Par k

Wa lter

Al ex

M ar

Littl e

St

an

St

Meag her

Cha lme

Reg

Balfou r Street

St

Bartley St

Stre et

on St

d St

Ben t

St

Bedf ord

St

Jess

R ai

nf or

Le

ent Ln

St

Re gen

Tud or

Ro ad

St

Arth ur

Crow n

Quee n

sh al

Stew

St

St

Ph

el ps

Mo ore

St

Little Queen

er lo

St

Re

ide

Ale xan

de

Rutla nd

Ad

l St

art St

ge

r St

Withe

rs Ln

Oa tley

o St re

St

Stre et

Welli ngton

S tr

St

St

Rd

Da

et

S tr

Holt

ee

ee

Co

op

er

vo ren

sh

Ln

D ev

on

Norto n

et

Rile y

St re

Gree ns

Ra

nd

le

er

Rd

S tr

Stre et

ee

Co op

Fov eau

d le

x Stre et

St

VICTORIA BARRACKS
Ren ny Ln

ir e

Re nny

St

ela

x fo

rd

S te

w ar

S tr

nn

is te

St

tS t

ee

Dawson St
Co

Ar
ult

rS t

Chip pen

th ur
Ln

P R IN C E A LFR E D PARK

St

gh

Clev elan
H ud so n

mam

ou

d Stre et

Belvo ir

on

St

lb or

St

D ev

Buck ingh

M ar

Stre et

H ol

W ils

H ig

ore

on

Level 6, 323 Castlereagh St, Haymarket NSW 2000 GPO Box 7060, Sydney NSW 2001 Telephone 02 9995 0300 www.olgr.nsw.gov.au

Crow n

Par

k Ro ad

January 2014 v.1404

3 of 3

St

Clev elan

d Stre et

S tr

bo

ee

St

Mo

ls

te

rS

rn

on

sh

ir e

SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM

Len

nis

ter

St

v.3

St

Hopetoun Ln

ee

lm

Be

et

or e

lvu

x St re

Little Dowli ng

St

e La

Elfr

Staf ford

C om

St

St

St

ve

m on

au

ne

ed

Fo

A lb io

M ar

re et

n St

St

Pl

Stree t

Ma

ry

ac

St Hanna h

St

Hop

Jes mon

d St

Hill Stre et

Nap ier

ewe

ll Ln

Gi pp

s St

Staffo

rd Ln

u ff

o lk

hi

Norf olk

Th

St

et

te

uf

fo

Ln

Ln

om

as

St re

et

RAILWAY SQUARE

l in g

Albio

n Stre et

St

Sho rt

Stre et
Clare St

le

Brown St

Av

S tr

ee

et

W es

Co

ine

St

dy

e St

t St

Th

A lb

mb

om

Val ent

io n

Mack ey

Ta

Stree

yl or

St re
Sim

er

Ul tim

Little Bourk

St

o Ro

ad as

Denh am

St re

et

so

e St

M ar

re y St

R aw

Pl

Little

Ann Stre et

s St

nm

or

Ed

BELMORE PARK

Reservoir Street

St

et

P it

Goodcha p

St

Bo

un

do

na

ld

Glen St
Co op er St

St

Goo dhop

Str eet

Stre et

Br

Ba rlow

Commonwealth Street

Ba

a rl

rc

da

ry

M ac

ow

Ln

e St

dl e

in

Ro

Fo

gh

om

St
Cam pbel

ald

le

ad

St

u rs

xf

S tr

ee

St

Ma

cd on

H od

Ln

nm

or

ws

on

o re

S te

Stre et

Cam

ia

oa

p b e ll

ie w

St

La

Low

ph

er C a

Li

ttl

G le

en

ee

St

w Ln

St

S tr

n St

lon

Ln

Ne

il d

Laws on

St

Alma St

H ay St
ee t
Q ua re et y St

Wa

Eas tern

be ll

St

ee

ol

Sherbr ooke

Ca mp

ine

Str

A rn

ee

Bur ton

P la

Stre et

Bou nda
W
Boun dar

ry St
Av e

ce

y Ln

nv

Broom

field St

Stu

rt

St ree

THREE SAINTS SQUARE

Ons

Mac leay

oa

St

P lo w l

St

Ja me

s Road

Nes bit Wils on

Rock

wa

Nich olso

n Stre et

St

Stre et

l l Pl

Da

t lg e

y R oa
d

Circula r Quay West

SYDNEY CO VE

OBSERVATORY PARK

Georg e Stree t

High Street

Hick son Rd

Kent Street Kent Street

Cahill
Alfred Street

Expres sway

F ARM CO VE

Es se

Albert St

ee t Su ss ex Str

King Street

Claren ce Street Claren ce Street

York Street

Aven ue St Neot

le a y St

McDon

ald Ln

King Stre et
York Street
Ar

Cha llis

Ave nue

Rockw

all Lane

Sussex Street

THE DOMAIN

Blan d

Stre et

Hartn ett

Roc kwa

ll Cres

B ill ya rd

P ri nc e

A ve nu e

BEARE PARK

On slo w Av

Ro
ad

k now

en ue

eA ve

Ith ac a Rd

oda St
re

nt Str eet

ly n St

Bayswate r

Roa d

O x fo rd S

cL

a ch

la

A ve

tr e et

Hunt

es ve tA

O x fo

H ar ris S tr

rd S tr e et

Bu rt o n

mp b e l l S t

St

Camb ridge

Cam bridg

St

Live rpoo

e St

Ln

l Ave

Flin ders

Gurne

r Ln

l St

Glenmore Rd
u x fo rd St

Gur ner

St

Chisho

Stre et

re et

Jo ne s St

lm Street

H ar ri s S tr ee t

Olive St

Fli

nd

ers

St

G o rd on St W a ts on St