But those dealing with the effects of late night alcohol-fuelled violence would be less than thrilled that one door has been slammed shut in the effort to curb the problem.

Mr Barr said the response in Sydney and Queensland had been heavy handed and ruled out such "dramatic" changes for the territory.

The changes might be dramatic but the results in NSW so far show they have curbed alcohol-related assaults in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross areas significantly.

While the nightlife and associated violence is Canberra is clearly on a much smaller scale than Sydney, the issue of alcohol-fuelled attacks and domestic violence incidents is still present.

To rule out point blank what has demonstrably been a successful harm-minimisation strategy in other cities, such as Newcastle, could be considered a shortsighted move.

That is unless the ACT government is planning to address the problem by way of an alternative method that we will see when the changes to existing alcohol policy are announced.

Pubs, clubs and licensed establishments in the territory are understandably nervous about any change to the status quo that will damage their business or turn Canberra into a nanny state.

That's why there was concern following the news that Calvary Hospital was part of an Australian-first study monitoring every patients' drug and alcohol intake and the venues intoxicated people had attended prior to admission to the emergency department.

In Canberra emergency departments recorded a 35 per cent increase in intoxication cases and a 24 per cent increase in alcohol-related injuries in the years from 2013-15 – and these figures are considered likely underestimated.

We might not like to admit it, but Canberra has a drinking problem, and serious steps need to be taken to curb it before it gets out of control.

The consideration of lockout laws could have been a proactive part of that plan.