This archive report was first published on 29 November 2019.
On November 29, 2019, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a significant change to Sydney's nightlife regulations, marking a shift away from the city's restrictive lockout laws.
The new measures, set to take effect on January 14, 2020, will see pubs' trading hours extended and laws curbing after-midnight drinking eased in most of central Sydney.
According to Berejiklian, the move aims to create a 'strong and vibrant night-time economy' that reflects Sydney's status as Australia's only truly global city.
For a city renowned for its New Year's Eve celebrations and rich history of alcohol consumption, Sydney's nightlife has long been criticized for being surprisingly dull.
The infamous 'lock-out laws', introduced in early 2014, have been a major contributor to this issue, with bar doors closing at 1:30 am and restrictions on serving cocktails, shots, or 'drinks in glass' after midnight.
The laws have had some comical consequences, including Madonna and Justin Bieber being unable to attend their own after-parties due to arriving too late from gigs.
A 2019 survey by TimeOut.com ranked Sydney as the 39th best city in the world, with residents voting their city as the worst in the world for nightlife.
