The Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2023 has been passed in the parliament.

Following the amendment, the permitted hours for the sale of liquor will be 11am to 1am for taverns, 1pm to 12midnight daily for restaurants and 5pm to 1am daily for nightclubs.

Currently the nightclubs operate between 5pm to 5am, however, after the amendment it will now only operate between 5pm and 1am.

The amendment also included the removal of special zones which provides for the sale of liquor for extended hours in taverns, restaurants and nightclubs for areas in Suva and Nadi

Attorney General Siromi Turaga says the consumption of alcohol is a serious issue.

He says they want to provide an environment where people are safe.

“We have not taken away the right for someone to go and enjoy themselves. They can drink until 1. We have not taken away the right of small business to operate. What we have provided is an environment that people can go home and streets are free at 5 so that people of Nadi can walk and enjoy.”

However, Opposition Member of Parliament Faiyaz Koya says the reduction of the nightclub hours will be another blow to the owners and the micro small and medium enterprises who depend on the country’s nightlife.

Koya says these businesses are still recovering from the impact of COVID-19 and the reduction in opening hours will have a devastating impact on not only the owners and the MSME’s but their families as well.

Koya says this will also open up opportunities for black market.

“The minute you close it early, Wailoaloa Beach is the first place they end up with the rest of the alcohol. And guess what you have suddenly opened up a black-market for booze. The black-markets will start selling alcohol after the shut off at the nightclubs.”

29 voted in support of the bill, 23 voted against it while two did not vote.

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