The territory's police chief has downplayed concerns that relaxed outdoor liquor regulations could lead to more booze-fuelled violence around city venues.
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The ACT government last week moved to shift historic constraints on the service of alcohol outside which would allow restaurants and live venues across the capital to provide outdoor bar service.
Outdoor bars will be allowed at venues that already have approval for patrons to drink in outdoor dining areas, which the government said would help boost customer service and enhance Canberra's street life.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the changes would encourage the hospitality sector to be innovative, improve the city's reputation and enhance experiences for Canberrans and visitors.
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) chief executive Michael Thorn raised concerns the changes could see an increase in violence between drinkers and passersby, particularly in areas such as Civic and Braddon.
"I think we know from long experience that people drinking on the streets does increase the risks [of harm]."
"It's going to mean clashes between pedestrians and revellers who are spilling out onto the streets."
But ACT chief police officer Rudi Lammers didn't believe more outdoor bars would lead to more violence.
"The addition of outdoor bars within these licensed premises may reduce the concentration of patrons queuing for service at indoor bars.
"This may alleviate some tensions and flash points which are known to cause some anti-social and alcohol-fuelled incidents."
Mr Thorn also raised concerns over the governments public messaging around the changes and said it reinforced the capital's drinking culture.
"We know what the research says about the availability of alcohol – if you increase the availability you increase the harms."
"While I understand there are reasons for presenting the "cool Canberra" idea, there are consequences for that."
Mr Thorn said excess alcohol consumption was linked to assaults, domestic violence and emergency department presentations.
"People are harmed by alcohol and we need to be reminded this isn't a normal commodity we're dealing with."
Assistant Commissioner Lammers last month said there had been significant reductions in booze-fuelled attacks in Civic, and police would continue to focus on entertainment precincts.
He said the outdoor bars would be subject to approval and the same laws governing the responsible service of alcohol would apply.
Police would monitor the new bars as part of normal patrols and members of the regional targeting team would keep an eye on compliance.
The change followed new legislation introduced into the Legislative Assembly last month, as part of a review into the territory's Liquor Act Review conducted in 2013-14.
