Bondi ‘kerbside bars’ slapped with seven day ban on selling takeaway cocktails in COVID lockdown

Nine businesses in the Sydney suburb of Bondi have had their takeaway liquor licences temporarily revoked after being accused of encouraging the community to breach public health orders. 

Bondi Rumba, Bondi Tony’s Burger Joint, TAQIZA, Italo House, Speakeasy, Neighbourhood, Bondi Liquor Co, Fonda Mexican and North Bondi Fish are now banned from selling takeaway alcohol for seven days.

Liquor and Gaming NSW compliance director Dimitri Argeres said authorities witnessed the “kerbside bars” offering takeaway cocktails in disposable cups for people to drink nearby or as they walked to the next “bar”.

He said this was inherently “risky” and the businesses needed a “reset”.

Bondi Rumba has accused the government of making them a “scapegoat” and targeting small businesses instead of customers breaking the rules.

“I feel like we have been made a scapegoat for what has been occurring in Bondi (& Sydney as a whole),” Bondi Rumba wrote on Facebook and Instagram.

“To target small business rather than the people breaking lockdown protocols is really sad to me.

“Guess we are an easy target when looking for ‘blame’.”

During the lockdown, Bondi locals have posted on social media about “margarita crawls” between several bars.

The posts encourage friends to create a list of takeaway venues and grab drinks or snacks at different bars and restaurants.

Mr Argeres from Liquor and Gaming said police and members of the community had raised concerns and the activity didn’t “pass the pub test”.

“While it is understandable hospitality businesses are trying to maximise business during these hard times, this activity doesn’t pass the pub test as it results in patron crowding, congestion and a lack of social distancing,” Mr Argeres said.

“It’s not appropriate for this type of risky activity to continue.

“What is appropriate is a stop of these takeaway alcohol sales for a week in Bondi to allow those businesses and the local community a necessary reset.”

Earlier this month NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys warned of the dangers around selling ready-to-consume alcohol after photos emerged of crowds gathering outside bars in Bondi.

“This is an activity that sees people coming together in close proximity — I suspect these people aren’t doing this alone, that there would be a group of people moving around,” he said.

The nine Bondi businesses are allowed to continue delivering alcohol to homes but face a fine of $11,000 if they are caught selling individual takeaway cocktails over the next week.

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