Sydney's ban on standing while drinking outdoors at bars scrapped - Bars + Pubs

Aug 15, 2024

“Adults should be trusted to choose whether they stand or sit while having a drink.”

Determined to shirk its reputation as a sleepy coastal town, the City of Sydney has today announced its “second tranche” of Vibrancy Reforms to boost the city’s nighttime economy.

The first stage of reforms started rolling out in October 2023, when temporary outdoor dining precincts were made permanent, the Open Streets program introduced family-friendly street parties across the suburbs, Special Entertainment Precincts made late-night partying easier, and incentives were offered to encourage venues to host live music.

The reforms also put a plug in new neighbours whinging when long-established hospitality venues dared to make noise.

The second tranche of Vibrancy Reforms will be announced in the coming weeks however one teaser that the Minns government has revealed is that patrons at pubs will now be allowed to stand while they drink. Yep.

NSW premier Minns said of the Big News, “For too long Sydney’s nightlife has been strangled by red tape. We’re fixing this by removing the restrictions destroying entertainment venues.”

The sentiment was echoed by the minister for music and the nighttime economy John Graham who said in an unironically literal statement, “We are getting the social scene back on its feet. Adults should be trusted to choose whether they stand or sit while having a drink.”

A blanket ban on standing and drinking was introduced as part of approvals for outdoor dining on footpaths in front of licensed venues during the tentative months after Covid lockdowns.

The rule was part of Covid-era measures to encourage outdoor dining and the use of footpaths. It is currently being used by around 145 licensed venues, including 60 pubs, clubs and small bars.

If you were also unaware that this law was still in place, consider yourself a reformed criminal. The system works!

How many pubs are there in Sydney?

We won’t lie, Sydney loves a drink. In fact, the entire state of NSW loves a drink, with more than 2000 pubs across the state. Fun fact: according to Real Estate Australia, 69 percent of pubs in NSW are located on a street corner.