The step has been critiqued as a step forward for Sydney and metro centres but a step backward for regional areas, many of which have been out of lockdown and trading normally for a while.

Juanita Vincent from Ron Dalla said that she was concerned about 'people getting feisty' upon being asked for the proof.

"We've had people pushing back against the QR codes, there's always some of them ... then there's when you ask the question and people aren't telling the truth ... What are they going to do if someone walks in the door and we're all serving somebody else? Do we have to put someone else on?" she asked.

She was concerned that as well as dropping customers who haven't been fully vaccinated yet, it might drive other customers away.

"People might not want to go through the hassle, it's going to cause a whole heap of trouble. I'm sure [the state government] think they're doing the right thing, but it's only causing pressure on business owners."

Denise is a small business owner who asked not to be identified further, and was more cautiously optimistic about it.

"I'm only a little shop, I'm hoping people will offer it up. If I was in their shoes, I would," she said.

"We'll have to wait and see but it's all for the good. I mostly hope people would respect it ... I'm happy we're all doing it together."

READ MORE

Hospitality might have been hit hardest by the new restrictions however, and bars have been anticipating a downturn.

Matt Hardwick, the operations manager at the Area Hotel, said that they'd seen it before, every time new restrictions are brought in.

"We're anticipating a drop in trade, probably about the same as last year. Every time they change the rules, the first week is a drop but it picks back up," he explained.

"This vaccine thing is a little different ... For Sydney, it's probably necessary but regionally, we possibly could have traded as we had been," Mr Hardwick continued.

He added that they would be rigorous in ensuring the rules were followed.

"Hospitality, they've cracked down pretty hard on us in the past so we follow it pretty strictly."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: