The Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Living reported on Tuesday (August 11) on the “small bar revolution that isn’t”.

The point of the article is that while it may seem like a whole lot of new drinking dens have opened since the State Government introduced cheap general bar licences a year ago, most of these new ‘bars’ have opened up as licensed cafes and restaurants. The article references venues such as Bootleg Bar and Italian Food in Potts Point, the Falconer Bar in Darlinghurst and Hive Bar in Erskineville.

The general consensus is that bar licenses are impeded by the massive hurdle of DA approval. The article quotes the architect of Melbourne’s liquor licensing laws, the economist John Nieuwenhuysen, who warned in 2008 that the much-touted new general bar licences would prove a “pyrrhic victory” for NSW. The problem, he told the Herald last November, was that as well as the community consultation necessary for DA approval, owners have to complete community impact statements to obtain the general bar licence, which involves approaching all residents and community stakeholders within a 100-metre radius. The process can take over a year, potentially running up thousands of dollars in holding costs.

Only four bars have opened in Sydney under the general bar licences (including Small Bar, pictured above). A further three licences have been approved in the city, while five have been approved in regional NSW.

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