Small bars should be allowed to open in North Adelaide, review into state liquor laws recommends

SMALL bars should be allowed to open in North Adelaide and patrons should be able to buy alcoholic drinks in restaurants without having to order food, a review of liquor licensing laws has recommended.

CHEERS: Amy Sincock enjoys a wine in the Oxford Hotel in North Adelaide. Picture: Calum Robertson

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SMALL bars should be allowed to open in North Adelaide and patrons should be able to buy alcoholic drinks in restaurants without having to order food, a review of liquor licensing laws has recommended.

The long-awaited review — released on Wednesday — also recommends clearer controls on supplying liquor to teenagers at events such as school formal after-parties.

They are among 129 recommendations made by former Supreme Court Justice Tim Anderson, who has been reviewing the Liquor Licensing Act since November.

The State Government is yet to say which suggestions it will adopt.

Small bar licences were first introduced to SA in 2013 and limited to the CBD.

The Master Builders Association (SA) called in its State Budget submission to expand small bar licences to the suburbs.

Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese said the city council did not have a formal position but he would be supportive of extending the licences “particularly to the likes of O’Connell St and Melbourne St, which I think it would suit very well”.

However, Adelaide City Councillor Anne Moran said she would be “cautiously supportive” because O’Connell St was in a residential area.

“It’s a very delicate interface there because it is so close (to houses) but then, on the plus side, small bars don’t tend to cause any trouble,” she said.

La Buvette, in Gresham St in the city. One of many “small bars” to pop up after the introduction of small venue legislation. Photo: Nick Clayton

“We have had small bars before and there’s (still) empty shops so there’s plenty of room.”

Writer Amy Sincock, 26, works at a digital marketing agency in North Adelaide and said it would be a bonus to the area to have small bars.

“To be able to have different ones pop up and different types of bars would be really cool,” she said.

“I spend a lot of time here after work because it’s easy to meet up with people, especially if you don’t want to try and deal with the city bar scene.”

Other recommendations of the review include:

TOUGHER penalties for breaching liquor licensing rules.

REMOVING restrictions which prevent the sale of alcohol on Christmas Day and Good Friday.

RESTRUCTURING liquor licencing costs.

SIMPLIFYING liquor licence categories.

Deputy Premier John Rau said it had been almost two decades since the Liquor Licensing Act had been updated.

Mr Rau said the recommendations suggested a “system that encourages a competitive market, reduces red tape (and) promotes vibrancy and a safe drinking culture”.

“Mr Anderson has produced a comprehensive review and we shall be considering his findings in detail,” he said.

The review attracted 89 submissions from individuals and industry and community groups.

The Australian Hotels Association launched a campaign ahead of the release of the review, urging the State Government to protect the 26,250 people employed in pubs and clubs — which it says equates to about three per cent of the state’s workforce.

AHA general manager Ian Horne said he hoped the Government would consult “strongly with industry on all issues”.

“Any response from Government must focus on what is best for the tens of thousands of South Australians employed in the hospitality industry, as well as the future of state’s economy,” he said.