At long last this state has joined the rest of the world and passed sensible laws to regulate the serving of alcohol.
No longer will any form of alcohol license involve draconian fees of thousands of dollars, pages of incomprehensible data demands - and then a list of licensing requirements that make the whole thing inoperable anyway.
It will be possible to have a beer or a glass of wine at a small cafe or kiosk, in a motel where you are a guest - or in a beachside surf club without having to order a meal to accompany it.
It is called " Mediterranean style " - and it will suit the sub-tropical climate and laid back lifestyle of Australia admirably.
We have always had a problem with the regulation of alcohol. In the early days of the colony the governor slavishly followed the custom of host country England - and the English were not known for passing liberating alcohol laws.
As this country developed a strong " wowser " element pushed for prohibition - and when this was rejected - agitated for the six o'clock closing of hotels - leading to the " Six O'Clock swill ".
Sanity finally prevailed and the pubs were allowed to open until ten in the evening, despite the hysterical opposition from the churches and " Wowser " groups.
Since then, public demand has chipped away at alcohol restrictions and we now have an almost open slather regarding trading hours. It is possible in cities and large towns to get a drink 24/7 - but only in establishments that have that elusive - and expensive - permit to sell alcohol.
Hopefully there will be a bonus from the widening of liquor laws. When poker machines were allowed in pubs it became virtually impossible to legally have a drink without being subjected to the seductive music from these machines.
From today, it will finally be possible to have a quiet beer or a sip of wine in congenial surroundings without the gaming pressure present in clubs and pubs.
Australia will be a better place for this reform.
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