Lockouts killing us, say Sydney publicans

Sydney hoteliers report the new lockouts and closing times are having a disastrous affect on their businesses. 

A prominent Sydney hotel operator with venues both inside and just outside the affected precinct told TheShout his bar takings were down 30 per cent (YOY) since the introduction – over and above any drop in revenue resulting from the first round of restrictions imposed on the Kings Cross precinct. 

The CEO, speaking off the record, said business had been consistently dropping each week and his company had been forced to reduce staff numbers and hours, as well as ancillary services such as entertainment and security.

AHA NSW director of policing, John Green told TheShout affected member hotels had all experienced a serious downturn in revenue.

“The lockouts and last drinks are certainly having an impact on venues – early indications are member hotels have significantly reduced their staffing and the hours of those working due to the loss in revenue,” he said.

“If you measure success based purely on raw statistics, then pop the corks because with the significantly reduced patron numbers in Sydney, the anti-social behaviour rates go down too,” continued Green.

“But, once we see the damage to employment, income and tourism combined, police diverted to private home parties and other locations, then another picture will emerge. But that will be too late to save some businesses.” 

Operators are reporting significant drops in trade between 10pm and midnight, as customers flock to the bottleshops – forced to close at 10 – before heading home. 

“They have effectively euthanised Kings Cross,” the pub group CEO said. “Less people in the area, coupled with increased police presence, obviously means less violence.”

“This whole thing was a sledgehammer approach – with a complete lack of consultation with those on the ground." 

“These days violence within venues has decreased dramatically; it’s more on the streets, and the intensity is far higher. Why is it only now they are talking about testing for drugs?" he asked.

“A police commander once said to me: ‘Drug dealers are hard to catch. Pubs stay put.’”

The AHA’s Green said it was impossible to declare the measures a success after one month.

“Both NSW police and OLGR have confirmed that, and it’s a position we’ve often heard from [BOCSAR director] Don Weatherburn, so we’ll wait and review all the data – not just raw crime stats from the city.”

Source: The shout - 4 April 2014