'Surely there's a better solution': Coward punch victim's sister wants lockout laws replaced

The sister of coward punch victim Michael McEwen says NSW's controversial lockout laws are a failure and a better solution is needed to stop alcohol-fuelled violence.

For eight days Claudia McEwen, 22, watched her brother fight for life in a coma after being punched and stomped on in December 2013.

It was random violence directed at Mr McEwen and others in the Kings Cross and CBD areas of Sydney that led to the strict lockout laws that restrict the serving of alcohol and opening times of clubs and pubs.

While assault rates in the trouble suburbs have reduced, many argue it is only a reflection on the dramatic drop in people to the areas, which has sparked an enormous campaign accusing the Baird government of destroying Sydney's nightlife.

Ms McEwen told the Daily Telegraph she was unconvinced the lockout laws were the right way to curb violence and said young men needed to be taught violence was a "failure of self-control, not a symbol of masculinity" rather than blaming liquor laws.

"I say that after going out and seeing the impact (without lockout laws) is having on our nightlife culture," Ms McEwen said.

"You can't deny those statistics but when foot traffic has gone down so much, so many bars and clubs closing down, surely there is a better long-term solution."