The Transition Committee announced the ban on the 'vertical consumption' of alcohol within licensed venues is likely to be dropped when the state’s hard border with Victoria is lifted in a fortnight.

SPECIAL REPORT: COVID-19 ADELAIDE

With everyone being so responsible in South Australia – thank you for washing your hands – Premier Steven Marshall has announced the ban on the standing consumption of alcohol inside licensed venues will likely be lifted in the next two weeks.

This also coincides with the removal of the hard border with Victoria, allowing more eastern-seaboarders access into South Australia.

“I think a lot of South Australians will be delighted that in a couple of weeks they will be able to go to a pub and have a beer at the bar with their mates,” the Premier said at a presser earlier today.

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier also cautioned that once restrictions lift in Victoria, “we could see more positive cases” emerge.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said rolling back the standing-while-drinking ban was a result of the Transition Committee listening to the hospitality sector.

Stevens added the vertical consumption rule was contingent on licensed venues – such as pubs, restaurants, cafés and bars – monitoring their patrons and ensuring electronic contact-tracing methods are in place.

“If we see a blatant disregard for directions, then we will take action,” Stevens warned.

Such action has been taken by the Transition Committee previously, when in July some of the eased restrictions were reinstated for nightclubs. The road to recovery for Adelaide’s late-night industry was made slower as some CBD operators continued to ignore health advice.

According to current COVID-19 restrictions in South Australia, we are permitted to stand while drinking in the outdoor section of a licensed venue. The heady combination of dancing, drinking and standing within licensed venues is only allowed for private functions of fewer than 150 people, so long as guests come by invitation and are easily accountable for contract tracing purposes.

There were no new announcements today regarding dancing and drinking ban in licensed venues.

For more information from today’s coronavirus press conference, head over to InDaily.