Liquid nitrogen pioneer hit by ban

Another Sydney bar has been requested to stop using liquid nitrogen in cocktails by the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR).

Located in Sydney's Neutral Bay, The White Hart is the third venue in NSW hit with the restriction following a UK incident in recent weeks.

Owner Grant Collins (pictured) told TheShout he has used liquid nitrogen in over 20 countries to make drinks for thousands of people without any issues.

"I was one of the first to use it in this country and have been using it for seven years, and have never had any incidents with it," he said.

Although the ban will not have a great effect on The White Hart's business, Collins said the lack of consultation is what he is really concerned with.

"It would be nice to have an open, round table discussion about the issue. I think the main thing that is wrong about this is that we were not consulted… it would have been good to understand the context in which we use it."

"We use it as a garnish or to chill glasses, no one would put it in a drink. To think we put it in a drink is outrageous," Collins said.

Although the full details of the UK incident have yet to be officially revealed, Collins said he has been informed by contacts in the UK bar industry that the incident didn't involve cocktails. Instead, from what he understands, two shots had liquid nitrogen poured on them and were consumed by the woman before any dissipation could occur.

He highlighted the contrast between the way the issue has been dealt with locally as opposed to the UK where the incident occurred, with authorities there currently investigating the facts behind the use of liquid nitrogen before making a decision whether to ban it or not.

Source: The Shout, 17 October 2012