Lockout laws have created a new culture of good behaviour at Sydney venues

Behaviour at pubs and bars across Sydney has improved dramatically in the past five years ago and etiquette experts are convinced the 1.30am lockout is behind the change. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

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Behaving yourself in front of bouncers and being careful when you get inside a bar — these are some of the ways Sydney’s lockout laws are changing behaviours while out on the town.

Etiquette experts agree people are more conscious of how they carry themselves now, five years after the 1.30am lockout was introduced to crackdown on alcohol-fuelled violence.

Sydney School of Protocol founder Julie Lamberg-Burnet said people were more alert when going out now because they’re “on the radar”.

“The lockout laws have created a new culture — it’s both good and bad,” she said.

Etiquette experts advise people to maintain normal behaviour that you would use at all times. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

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“It’s brought more attention to people thinking ‘I don’t want to be tossed out of a venue’.

“You’re choices are restricted, in a very subliminal way, it has made people think more about how they present themselves.”

Under the laws, people can’t enter or re-enter licensed venues after 1.30am and “last drinks” are called before 3am.

In turn, this has shined the spotlight on how people carry themselves when trying to get into a venue and also once they’re inside.

Sydney-based etiquette expert Treska Roden has advice for people navigating Sydney’s night-life under the lockout laws.

“Number one is don’t get drunk, don’t get drunk to the stage when you’re not in control,” she said.

Ms Roden also said it was important to not push in front of anyone while in a queue outside a venue and also at a bar.

“Absolutely don’t try and push in,” she said.

Queues outside a pub in Newtown. Picture: Dean Asher

“Maintain normal good behaviour that you would use at all times — just because you’re going out with friends, it doesn’t give you a licence to do things that you normally wouldn’t do.

“Particularly when you’re with a group of friends, you can easily do and say things that you normally wouldn’t.”

Beaumont Hills woman Mel Estasy, 31, said things have become a lot stricter since the laws were introduced, with venues facing tough fines if caught serving intoxicated people.

“I used to go out years ago, you could be throwing up out the front and get straight back in,” she said.

“Venues have become stricter. I don’t blame them, I understand why they’ve got to be strict.”

However, Ms Estasy said some could get past bouncers in a line by trying to look sober even if they are intoxicated.

“I could have plenty of drinks and hold myself — you’ve got to stand straight and not sway — and you’ll get in,” she said.

Ms Estasy said sometimes people lined up behind others at a bar instead trying to “find a gap” beside each other at the bar itself.

“Everyone else just follows what everyone is doing,” she said.

“It’s just the blind following the blind, it depends on how much you go out and how polite you are.”

Freemans Reach woman Taneyle Moar, 25, said her and her mates worried about not getting let in.

“Standing in a line, you’re thinking if you’re going to get let in if you’re with boys who are loud and excited,” she said.

“I think they’re quite strict, you don’t get any chances. If you do anything once you’re out, and that affects everyone. (Boys can get) loud and excited, but it gets taken the wrong way.”

Kellyville Ridge woman Eden Kaye, 24, said lockout laws had made everyone “more wary”.

“It has changed things, everyone’s a little more wary,” she said.

“If you’re friend can’t get in, it ruins your night.”