Hotel Queanbeyan won’t be affected by the new rules in NSW. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
At least one bottle store in Queanbeyan is preparing for a busy day this Anzac Day due to new trading hour regulations in NSW.
The drive-through Bottle-O, located next to the Queanbeyan Hotel (also known as The Top Pub) on Crawford Street, will be the only store of its kind permitted to open on the day.
Coles and Woolworths-owned liquor stores – including Liquorland, First Choice Liquor Market and Vintage Cellars; and BWS, Cellarmasters, Jimmy Brings and Dan Murphy – have previously been allowed to open after 1 pm on Anzac Day; however, as of July last year, the state government ruled that they must remain closed for the entire day.
An “industry alert” on the NSW Government website states that this is to “ensure the service of veterans is recognised and people are able to take part in services throughout the day”.
The change came after two months of public consultation in 2023, with the government saying it received strong support from veterans, veterans’ organisations and the public.
In a statement, RSL NSW president Mick Bainbridge welcomed the decision, saying, “We must do all that we can to preserve the Anzac spirit and ensure the unique sacrifices of our servicemen and women, past and present, and their contribution to our Australian way of life are never forgotten”.
NSW Premier Chris Minns admitted “it might be inconvenient for a few hours” but added, “closing our biggest corporate shops for a single day is a small price to pay for living in a free and open democracy”.
“No occasion could be more solemn or significant than Anzac Day.”
The Queanbeyan Bottle-O circumvents the rule by sharing its liquor licence with the adjacent hotel bar, which opens at 10 am.
The hotel’s bottle store is able to open on the day because it operates under the same liquor licence. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Owner Matthew Griffin said Anzac Day is normally a quiet day for the bottle shop “because everyone’s in the pub”, but expects a change this year.
“It’ll be a lot busier for us in our bottle shop,” he told Region.
“But it’s also a bit of a test – this has never happened before.”
Mr Griffin says the change will have little effect on how people commemorate the day.
“They go to the pub and play two-up, because that’s what the diggers used to do.
“And I mean, we commemorate the day every time we have anyone in uniform come in – I shout them a beer, and if they come up to have a spin at two-up, the crowd gives them a standing ovation. We try to make them feel pretty special.”
The hotel typically has to cancel entries to the two-up tournaments by 2:30 pm on Anzac Day due to the overwhelming number of people wanting to participate.
“It’s hectic, but all in good spirits. If there’s ever too much trouble, we just get rid of that person and continue on. I always push home how it’s a show of respect on this day, and how we’re commemorating the people who made our lives better.”
Retail Drinks Australia has criticised the state government’s decision, calling it “unfair, discriminatory, and anti-competitive”.
“As a key sector within the broader liquor industry, our members have retailed responsibly and respectfully on this day for decades, servicing their local communities – they respect the significance and importance of Anzac Day,” CEO Michael Waters said.
“People taking part in Anzac Day should be able to commemorate however they choose, whether attending community ceremonies, joining family and friends at a BBQ, or having a quiet drink remembering old mates.”
Mr Waters said NSW Fair Trading has received more than 100 exemption applications from bottle stores across the state, with “every single one” rejected.
RDA has also produced an in-store poster with a link to a petition, allowing bottle store owners to encourage customers to lobby the government for a reversal.
“We’re on our way to reaching 20,000 signatures which, when achieved, will force the matter to be debated in NSW Parliament,” he said.
“We’re asking the government to let people live their lives and to be fair and balanced when making laws. The current situation discriminates against bottle shops and makes life unnecessarily harder for people in this state with no clear benefit, and at a time when individuals and businesses alike are struggling to make ends meet.”
No such rule exists in the ACT, so bottle stores over the border will operate on normal public holiday hours.
