Is Sydney Really This Bad? [Lockout Laws]

[JohnK]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

So anything that is potentially dangerous we should ban?

No. You'll find that up until a few months ago I would have fought tooth and nail to be able to drink anytime I wanted. But not anymore.

Too many deaths. Too many injuries.

I will be 52 in a few weeks. It shouldn't be my responsibility to assess whether it is safe to go out at night or whether I will be the next statistic. I know there are dangers from the criminal element and they are hard to police but the irresponsible drunk morons need to be shutdown and shutdown quickly.

Apologies if you were one of the responsible ones.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

So many comments about drinking excessively.
Lock out laws do not stop anyone drinking excessively.
They just change the hours and the locations where you can drink to excess.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

Sydney really is that bad.
The problem is violence, but the lock-out policy measures exclusively target drinking alcohol at venues late at night.
<snip>.

As bad as Morley?

 

[eastwest101]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

Yes as well as the lockout laws, and possibly higher penalty rates on weekends, I would imagine that a few other factors have come into play in the downturn in nightlife in SYD, the gentrification and infill with resulting noise complaints from noisy venues would be a contributor, plus the real estate bubble has made rents and property more expensive which hits hospitality margins two ways, both in increasing the club/restaurant/bar rents plus customers having less disposable income to spend out at night due to the high cost of living in SYD. If you are borrowing $1M+ to buy a place in the inner eastern suburbs then its hard to justify going out and spending a couple on hundred dollars for a night out when you can host a dinner party or grab a nice bottle of wine for that much or less.

 

[terry88]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

Just been to Sydney over the Xmas period, it was sad to see all the Pub Closures.

When I first moved to Sydney, I was having dinner in Oxford Street and got hit on by a fellow Gone the "Culture" of Oxford Street and it's now just a busy Street.

 

[jackthomas]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

I spend more time in Sydney than any other city ( apart from Melbourne where I live) and haven't noticed any difference in my trips since the lockout laws came into play.
The CBD is still just as lively and exciting with people about and events on, provided you're not out past 1am...

 

[Renato1]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

I spend more time in Sydney than any other city ( apart from Melbourne where I live) and haven't noticed any difference in my trips since the lockout laws came into play.
The CBD is still just as lively and exciting with people about and events on, provided you're not out past 1am...

Maybe they've all switched to drinking lattes and cappuccinos?
Oh - I forgot - Sydney has banned smoking while drinking them outside in the fresh air.
I guess it endangers the fresh air.
Regards,
Renato

 

[opusman]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

I haven't been to Sydney in ages, but is it really as bad in this article states it has become?
The place doesn't sound like it's worth visiting.

I told you mate, stick to Wonthaggi. Much safer.

 

[BAM1748]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

Maybe they've all switched to drinking lattes and cappuccinos?
Oh - I forgot - Sydney has banned smoking while drinking them outside in the fresh air.
I guess it endangers the fresh air.
Regards,
Renato

Yes it's good, we did it to keep Victorians away.

 

[Renato1]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

Yes it's good, we did it to keep Victorians away.

It's interesting to contrast the city of Sydney with where I live in the city of Frankston.

In Sydney one can smoke on the streets, but can't smoke while having a cappuccino.
In Frankston one can't smoke on the main streets, but is only allowed to smoke when sitting down at a cafe and having a coffee or cappuccino.

In Frankston, they have this peculiar law supposedly for everyone's good health - though I suspect that it is more to do with making the riff-raff go somewhere else.

Regards,
Renato

 

[moa999]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

It's certainly changed the foot traffic in the cross, with the talked about venues closing.

What hadn't been mentioned was that in the 5-10yrs before there had been an explosion in new venues in the Cross -- which brought a huge new crowd and its problems

Hugos - tripled in size
Trademark/X - former offices
Sugarmill - former bank
Bank/SinCity - former bank
Bourbon/ClubSwans - massive redevelopment
KingsXHotel - big redevelopment
Hampton - redeveloped

So it had an expansion, now it will shrink back.

Also the hoteliers didn't help themselves by flouting rsa laws etc

 

[Warks]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

Apparently it's all moved to Newtown which has no such laws.

As the argument goes: who needs a drink after 3am? The answer comes back: the staff who serve the grog to the drunks all night.

(Heard an interview on ABC radio yesterday with a restaurant owner who was closing down as a result of the laws. He claimed to want to drink after a 16 hour day at work - the last thing I'd do after a work day that long but each to their own).

 

[BAM1748]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

It should be noted all this is in the CBD area, map below.
New alcohol laws now in place | New South Wales Government

• Lock outs and last drinks: 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks at hotels, registered clubs, nightclubs and licenced karaoke bars. Small bars (maximum 60 people), most restaurants and tourism accommodation establishments are exempt. Venues currently licensed to stay open after 3am can do so without alcohol service.

Ouside the CBD bars are open later if you need.

 

[Milefest]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

As the argument goes: who needs a drink after 3am? The answer comes back: the staff who serve the grog to the drunks all night.

(Heard an interview on ABC radio yesterday with a restaurant owner who was closing down as a result of the laws. He claimed to want to drink after a 16 hour day at work - the last thing I'd do after a work day that long but each to their own).

I used to work in hospitality and as I've mentioned before some of the only times you have to socialise is after work from 12am-6am. It's hard to imagine for politicians who've worked 9-5 their whole life..

 

[JohnK]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

I used to work in hospitality and as I've mentioned before some of the only times you have to socialise is after work from 12am-6am. It's hard to imagine for politicians who've worked 9-5 their whole life..

If you have worked in hospitality can you please explain how irresponsible drunks who were drunk at 10:00pm are still served alcohol at 3:00am?

Is RSA being ignored by establishments? Get a friend to get you a drink? Aren't bouncers supposed to monitor behaviour? If you are running around screaming that's a good sign there's something wrong.

 

[medhead]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

Maybe they've all switched to drinking lattes and cappuccinos?
Oh - I forgot - Sydney has banned smoking while drinking them outside in the fresh air.
I guess it endangers the fresh air.
Regards,
Renato

Have they? Not that I've noticed when walking through the smokers haze outside sydney coffee shops.

 

[medhead]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

As for Sydney, I've been wandering around The Cross, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, etc. at all hours of the day and night for the last 6 years. I've never felt unsafe. I also see a cycle of businesses coming and going in the same venues. Haven't read the link in the OP as it seems to be click bait. But I find plenty to do in Sydney.

I used to work in hospitality and as I've mentioned before some of the only times you have to socialise is after work from 12am-6am. It's hard to imagine for politicians who've worked 9-5 their whole life..

Indeed. The pollies tell us that penalty rates should be cut because working all days is the societal norm. I fully agree, if pollies extend parliamentary sitting times to include weekends.

 

[Robert Qld]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

Apparently it's all moved to Newtown which has no such laws.

And that makes me sad, I've always enjoyed Newtown for its funky, weird but friendly and inclusive vibe. Now it is getting all the feral bogan trash in from the suburbs since the lockout laws came in place and hurting its scene.

 

[kelvedon]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

Have they? Not that I've noticed when walking through the smokers haze outside sydney coffee shops.

I've stopped walking down Barrack St in the mornings as it's filled with banished smokers and their toxic emissions.

 

[Milefest]

Re: Is Sydney Really This Bad?

If you have worked in hospitality can you please explain how irresponsible drunks who were drunk at 10:00pm are still served alcohol at 3:00am?

Is RSA being ignored by establishments? Get a friend to get you a drink?

The vast majority of patrons are responsible, I agree that irresponsible drunks are a problem but I don't think a blanket ban is the answer. It's hard to judge a person with a 10 second interaction in a dark, loud room unless they're totally intoxicated.

Aren't bouncers supposed to monitor behaviour? If you are running around screaming that's a good sign there's something wrong.

Security is definitely very effective, you'll find that the people causing trouble do get ejected quite quickly. The problem is when these drunks are on the street with a limited police presence.. This is where the majority of violent assaults occur.