While previously bottle shops were allowed to trade after 1pm on Anzac Day, NSW has enforced that many supermarkets, bottle shops and alcohol retailers remain shut on April 25.

The NSW government has justified the move, explaining that the new restrictions are intended to "better represent the deep significance of Anzac Day".

However, not everyone agrees with the new legislation, with Retail Drinks Australia has slammed the move by the NSW government, calling it "unfair, discriminatory, and anticompetitive".

"As a key sector within the broader liquor industry, our members have retailed responsibly and respectfully on this day for decades, servicing their local communities – they respect the significance and importance of Anzac Day," chief executive Michael Waters said.

Waters wants to see retailers continue to operate from 1 pm, as they have done in past years.

"People taking part in Anzac Day should be able to commemorate however they choose, whether attending community ceremonies, joining family and friends at a BBQ, or having a quiet drink remembering old mates," Waters said.

He called on the government to "be fair and balanced when making laws", claiming the changes discriminate against bottle shops "at a time when individuals and businesses alike are struggling to make ends meet".