Queensland's new ID scanning laws will hinder the progress the state's nightlife industry has made in the past few years, an award-winning Brisbane bar says.

Gresham manager Ryan Lane said the laws were "embarrassing" after the club was forced to turn away a group of French winemakers who were not carrying identification earlier this week.

"These guys were anywhere between 40 and 65 years old, sober, incredibly polite, lovely people," he said.

"They ticked every single box to enter our venue, except for the fact that two of them didn't have their passport on them so they're not going to break up a group, so they all left."

Aimed at curbing alcohol and drug-fuelled violence, the laws require venues open past midnight in Queensland's safe night precincts to scan IDs after 10:00pm.

Mr Lane said the blanket laws needed to be more flexible, instead of having a one-size-fits-all approach.

"The four years we've been open, we have an absolutely perfect record when it comes to alcohol-related violence and safety," he said.

New laws 'cut us off at the knees'

Mr Lane also warned the laws could have negative impacts on the city's thriving hospitality industry.

"Brisbane is going through its greatest transformation when it comes to nightlife," he said.

"We draw a lot of tourism from down south and internationally as well … those people aren't going to know this legislation that just came in last Saturday."

The last few years have seen Brisbane bars pick up major category awards in the Australian Good Food Guide and Gourmet Traveller.

Some bouncers at smaller venues were overwhelmed with the extra work. ( ABC News: Meghna Bali )

"We picked up four of the major categories for Australian Bar of the Year … we got Best Bar, Family got Nightclub of the Year, West End's Cobbler got Small Bar of the Year, and Lefty's Old Time Music Hall on Caxton Street picked up Live Music Bar of the Year."

He explained the costs associated with the installation and operation of the compulsory scanning machines would force some venues to shut down.

"We're very proud of the success of the Queensland hospitality industry over the past few years … and now this is just cutting us off at the knees," he said.

Machines have technical issues

Security guards have also said the machines had trouble reading interstate and foreign identification.

A nightclub owner in Cairns was left out of pocket when the scanners failed to read the foreign passports of sailors from a visiting US Navy ship.

Cairns Safe Night Precinct president John Lynch, who also runs a CBD pub, said there were significant delays because details had to be entered manually, with some patrons walking away.

"It's actually cost our business alone around $5,000 to $10,000 over the weekend, as well as the additional cost of extra security. We're imploring the Government to do the right thing, pause what they're doing and make sure the technology is ready to go before they roll it out," he said.

The Government said the scanners would have to be reconfigured for international visitors, because of the reversal of dates on passports and licences.

Two-thirds of all Brisbane littering fines were issued in Fortitude Valley last year. ( ABC News: Meghna Bali )

But Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the issues were part of the initial shift to the new system.

"I think the scanners are working — people are getting used to the transition, but to be clear this was a very important part of reducing alcohol-fuelled violence in licensed premises," she said.

"What we need to do is work with clubs and licensed premises to make sure those issues are resolved."