Stand and drink on the street at pubs: NSW Premier Chris Minns announces major hospitality shake-up

Archaic laws prohibiting punters from standing while sipping a drink on streets will be scrapped as Australia’s most populous state attempts to breathe some life back into its ailing nightlife scene.

Patrons must be seated while drinking on footpaths outside pubs, restaurants and cafes under existing conditions that are tied to outdoor dining provisions of the COVID-19 era.

But Premier Chris Minns said the “useless” blanket booze ban on standing and drinking was “destroying” venues and was set to be dumped.

“For too long Sydney’s nightlife has been strangled by red tape,” he said on Wednesday.

“Having an economy that fires up at 5pm during the week is critical for global cities like Sydney.”

A simple approval pathway under the Liquor Act will no longer stipulate patrons must be sitting down to consume alcohol in outdoor areas.

The planned changes represent the latest foray into a regulatory overhaul by the state Labor government, in a bid to revitalise NSW nightlife following the COVID-19 pandemic and the lingering impact of since-axed lockdown provisions.

More than a dozen councils are looking to build specialised precincts with later trading hours for businesses, extended footpath dining and looser noise restrictions to back live performances.

A planned change in legislation, approved by cabinet but yet to be introduced to state parliament, will also make it easier for restaurants and bars - that are a reasonable distance from homes - to trade later into the night.

Reforms were announced in October to make it easier for venues to host live events and more difficult for noise complaints to shut them down.

At least five individual noise complaints must be registered with Liquor & Gaming NSW before a venue can be asked to close.

Venues that host live music have also been allowed to trade two hours longer under streamlined licensing laws.