Sydney ‘considers’ overturning alcohol-free zones

The Lord Mayor of Sydney is reportedly considering the removal of 62 alcohol-free zones in the city.

Relaxing some alcohol-free zones in Sydney could allow responsible drinking in parks. Image: adventurejay

According to News.com.au, Lord Mayor Clover Moore thinks its time “adults were treated like adults”,

The move would go against the recent trend in the city which has seen the number of alcohol-free zones increase from 149 to almost 400 in seven years.

Areas set to see their booze-free zones revoked include Alexandria, Darlinghurst, Erskineville, Newtown, Redfern, Rosebury, Surry Hills, and Waterloo.

Public drinking in New South Wales was decriminalised in the 1970s. Councils were then afforded the right to establish alcohol-free zones to prevent anti-social behaviour, and police were given move-on powers.

Police Association of NSW boss Scott Weber told News.com.au that removing the alcohol-free zones would be problematic for policing.

However Dr Julia Quilter, University of Wollongong School of Law, criticised aspects of the alcohol-free zone model: “One problem is that alcohol-free zones are pushing people, sometimes homeless people, sometimes young people, out of public places where there’s the potential for services to be accessed.

“It’s a balancing act, and I wouldn’t necessarily be in favour of removing all alcohol-free areas. We need an evidence-based, targeted approach where people can have a picnic or a beer in the park and we ensure homeless people aren’t being [negatively affected].”

In January 2015, the New South Wales government held a review of Sydney’s controversial lock-out laws.