Don’t know the story?

Archer Brewing is campaigning to change the Food Standards in relation to dogs inside venues. We want to make it so allowing a dog inside a venue becomes a venue owner or managers choice. We do not wish for dogs to enter any food preparation areas, or be near them, nor are we requesting they be given the right to enter every venue, but venue owners and managers should be able to decide, not a governing body. We want Australia to reflect more modern and up to date opinions on dogs as members of the family, not simply pests that harbour diseases.

Archer Brewing is a brewery based in Wilson in Brisbane. We are named after our dog Archer, a brown border collie. We are a suburban based brewery, bar and kitchen, and our business model was about being able to bring the whole family down to enjoy the space, and dogs now are family to many. We designed our bar space to work with the laws by putting doors on all food preparation areas and where food is served to patrons

After doing this for nearly a year, in November of 2023 we were banned by the Brisbane City Council after a single complaint. We were unaware that the entire space people eat in is not allowed to have dog, not just food preparation areas (ie the kitchen, the bar, the brewery). Within the Food Standards is the phrase food handling areas, which when you further enquire includes all dining areas. We tried to work with council for a compromise but there wasn't one that logistically worked.

So it's time to change the law, and we need your help. The section we petition to change is that dogs should be exempt from the ban in areas that food is consumed. We want choice over who we let into our own venue, as I'm sure you do, not have another regulation to follow that lacks logic and common sense. The previous Queensland Government has so far done nothing, so we want the new Queensland Government to lead the change for the rest of Australia. They can opt to temporarily amend the Food Act for 12 months, allowing us a trial for dogs to be allowed in venues.

While some may not want to eat with dogs, which is perfectly fair, they can choose to go elsewhere, or to areas within venues that dogs can't go. Dogs don't deserve the right to go everywhere, but we should be able to choose.

There are many contradictions in the law, and many places that are exempt that do not make sense, the worst being Bunnings, who all have cafes and food licences, but are allowed dogs inside. It s time to be fair, and give us all the choice - that's all we request. Turning away our four legged customers that we've gotten to know and love has been heartbreaking - help us bring them all back.