Drunk And Disorderly

[icyfroth]

After yet another incident in Sydneys CBD last weekend where a young man was king hit in an unprovoked attack:

Man in intensive care after random attack in Sydney's CBD

A man is in intensive care after he was knocked unconcious in an unprovoked attack in Sydney's CBD overnight.

Matthew Blackmore, 33, was walking down George Street at about 12:20am (AEST) after a work function when he was approached by a group of up to five men.

Mr Blackmore remains in hospital with a fractured vertebrae and broken nose.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-14/man-in-intensive-care-after-being-punched-in-sydney-cbd/481931...

"The Wran government had decriminalised drunken behaviour after criticism it  unfairly targeted Aboriginal people before the Commission made its  recommendations. ''Reintroducing it would make a mockery of the  Attorney-General's rhetoric about reducing indigenous incarceration rates,'' Mr  Lynch said."

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/drunk-and-disorderly-to-get-six-hours-to-move-on-20110719-1hnbs.html#ixzz2...

Do you think it would help minimise alcohol-fuelled violence if the charge of Drunk and Disorderly as a criminal offence be re-introduced?

[patchoo78]

Everyone is my best friend when I get drunk... As long as I don't combine drinking rum with playing Mario Kart I'm fine.. Not that I drink much anymore anyway...

[crystal**flake]

They need to stop serving booze at midnight, everywhere.

[dskracing]

No they don't crystal....we do not need more laws in this country, we are already over governed and treated like toddlers.

People just need to take responsibilty for their actions.....aint gonna happen though as we are a nation of victims....always someone elses fault

[icyfroth]

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@dskracing wrote:

No they don't crystal....we do not need more laws in this country, we are already over governed and treated like toddlers.

People just need to take responsibilty for their actions.....aint gonna happen though as we are a nation of victims....always someone elses fault

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We all know ppl NEED to take responsibility for their actions, dsk, but add alcohol, and a lot of it, to the mix, and rational thought goes out the window.
I think that a.) being arrested for being D&D would be very sobering and act as a deterrent, and b.) get the drunks off the street before they get out of control.

And I agree with Crystal that alcohol is far to freely and cheaply available and that the party culture of going out and getting drunk should stop being glamourised.

[i-need-a-martini]

I'm not sure if bringing i the law again will help but I do believe something needs to be done that targets specific areas like Sydney CBD. The bottom end of George Street is a mess after a certain time on a Fri/Sat night and there is a news report for a a bashing or a death every other week. It is seething with drunken violence as if these kids are itching to take on a victim to claim their 5 mins of fame.

I'm not sure what the answer is.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

The results waste hospital resources. Go to ED on a Friday/Saturday night and it will be full of drunks and people injured by drunks. Because of this, Security which used to located near mental health wards in many hospitals are needed more at ED now so unless the wards are close, MH staff are now at higher risk with minimal or delayed back up.

[icyfroth]

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@elizabeths-mum* wrote:

The results waste hospital resources. Go to ED on a Friday/Saturday night and it will be full of drunks and people injured by drunks. Because of this, Security which used to located near mental health wards in many hospitals are needed more at ED now so unless the wards are close, MH staff are now at higher risk with minimal or delayed back up.

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Here's what doctors have to say about our "dumb drinking culture" :

DOCTORS fed up with booze-fuelled violence are pleading for Australia's "incredibly dumb drinking culture" to be stamped out, saying "enough is enough".

They advocate an increased tax on alcohol, raising the minimum drinking age, forcing venues to close earlier, watering down alcopops and shaming drunk dads.

Their appeal follows a News Limited investigation which revealed the shocking community cost of Friday and Saturday night mayhem - and that hospital emergency departments can no longer cope.

Analysis of 175 'king hits' reported over the past seven years reveals 82 per cent occurred on weekends, most between midnight and 4am. About 70 per cent happened in or near pubs or clubs.

Australia's longest-serving emergency department director, Professor Gordian Fulde of Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital, said drunken violence was a national issue that required an urgent shift in attitudes.

"We have developed this incredibly dumb drinking culture in Australia," Professor Fulde said.

"What we're talking about is alcohol and unnecessary sadness and violence. And it's a national issue. It's totally and utterly unnecessary and it should be totally preventable."

Leading Australian maxillofacial surgeon Dr Anthony Lynham, who spends his days repairing the smashed skulls of young men at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, also said the human toll from alcohol-related violence was preventable.

It is estimated nearly 3500 Australians a year are brain damaged by assaults.

Dr Lynham who, each year, tries to repair the damaged faces of about 400 people, said licensed venues should have to be further apart and closed by 1am. Drinks should be taxed by alcoholic content, he said.

My 23-yo grandson was in Sydney last week, visiting from Mackay,with his girlfriend. Neither of them drink He's a reformed alcoholic (at age 23!) I warned them against coming into the city on Friday and Saturday, it's a drunken orgy, how embarrassing!.

Here's the link if you want to read the whole article.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/doctors-slam-dumb-drinking-culture-and-call-for-it-to-stop...

[lakeland27]

 once when people had a bit of an altercation they didn't do each other that much damage.. they seemed to show more restraint. People generally show restraint for the simple reason they have a lot to lose by killing someone in anger, perhaps more feel they have little to lose now.

[lakeland27]

 and when unlucky enough to take a flogging from a group of lads (one wasn't usually enough ha ha) i don't recall people going to emergency departments. i went home and patched myself up as did most. (aloe vera was good)

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Ah, but they aren't tough like they were when we were young, Lakeland.