What SA’s new liquor laws mean to you: State Government releases response to review of liquor laws
TOUGHER penalties for pubs which break the law and less restrictions on selling alcohol on public holidays are part of a major shake-up of SA’s liquor laws — but it’s a no to small bars in the ‘burbs.
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TOUGHER penalties for pubs and clubs which break the law, as well as fewer restrictions on selling alcohol on public holidays will feature in a major shake-up of the state’s liquor laws.
However, small bar licences will not yet be expanded outside the CBD and there will be no change to rules on the sale of alcohol in supermarkets.
Deputy Premier John Rau has released the State Government’s long-awaited response to a comprehensive review of the Liquor Licensing Act.
The review, conducted by former judge Tim Anderson, was delivered in early July and made 129 recommendations.
The Government says it accepts the vast majority of the proposals but has rejected some outright.
Most of the changes will require approval in Parliament and Mr Rau will seek the green light from his cabinet colleagues to begin drafting new legislation.
The Government has already committed to one recommendation, to ban alcohol advertising on public transport vehicles, as revealed by The Advertiser last month.
The current statewide 3am venue lockout will remain in place, as recommended.
All restrictions on selling alcohol on Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday or New Year’s Eve will be lifted.
Restaurants would also be more able to sell alcohol to customers without requiring them to order a meal. However, restaurants would not be allowed to sell take-away liquor.
A new community and public interest test will be developed for certain venues to pass before they are granted a liquor licence.
The current process for objecting to a proposal for a new licenced venue will also change.
The Government will also move to impose a mandatory three-hour break in trading for late-night licensed venues, sometime between 3am and 8am.
Mr Rau said South Australians wanted a liquor licensing system “that strikes a balance between allowing people to enjoy the lifestyle which makes SA a great place to live and ensuring public safety”.
The Government has ruled out recommendations including:
EXPANDING the small bar licence from the CBD to North Adelaide.
REQUIRING security staff to check the ID of anyone who appears to be aged younger than 25.
IMPOSING penalties as part of annual licence fees for venues which commit serious offences or serve alcohol to minors in the previous year.
The Government will give further consideration to recommendations regarding:
ALCOHOL advertising during live sport broadcasts.
MINIMUM alcohol pricing.
AFTER midnight public transport services.
MORE police patrolling in and around licenced venues.
Australian Hotels Association SA government relations and policy manager Wendy Bevan welcomed the decision not to allow supermarkets “carte blanche access to alcohol in their aisles”.
She said her organisation had long argued that “allowing the big grocers easier access to alcohol would simply allow them greater market dominance and come at a devastating cost to independent bottle shops and the South Australian wine industry”.
Ms Bevan said much of the Government’s response was “common sense” and practical but flagged that “the devil will be in the detail”, especially regarding the new Community and Public Interest test.