The state government‘s absurdly strict licensing laws have resulted in a local plumber’s 2002 WRX Subaru having the same restrictions as a nightclub meaning he is locked out, or into the car after 1:30am.
The same disgraceful nanny state laws recently affected local Japanese restaurant Goros which was deemed to be a nightclub after a Mirrorball was fixed to the ceiling.
“Mate it’s crazy,” said Stephanos, 23. “I drove from me chick’s in Castle Hill, back to the hood (Surry Hills) after 1:30am and the car locked me in in until 330. Mate it’s stupid.”
Recently Goros’ owners said the state’s liquor licensing red tape is so nonsensical that hanging a mirror ball has put it at risk of being saddled with extra restrictions.
The mere act of installing one, the venue has claimed, could see it fall foul of the authorities.
But Goros, a Japanese themed “izakaya” in inner city Surry Hills, has hung one up anyway in defiance at what its owner calls Sydney’s “crazy” liquor laws.
“Effectively we’ve had our mirror ball banned,” said Justine Baker, the chief executive of Solotel, the pub company that owns Goros.
The state’s liquor authority has insisted a mirror ball isn’t a specific exemption in its liquor licence. But Ms Baker has said being classed as a nightclub could see restrictions such as having to serve drinks in plastic glasses put in place. She told news.com.au it was just another example of the ridiculous rules surrounding entertainment in Sydney. The restrictions have also forced her to turn away a grandmother from a family celebration because she couldn’t prove she was over 18, and shut a nightclub after tenants in a new block complained.
