War On Alcohol A Failure

[icyfroth]

THE state government is handing out a record number of liquor licences, yet there are more police fighting the war on alcohol than there are troops left fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan.   

that's a pretty sobering statistic!

The Police Association also made a submission to the Liquor Act review that asked the government to put in a maximum closing time of 3am and 1am lockouts for every hotel across the state, and to trial the Newcastle model in every pub in NSW.

● THE government is refusing to trial the Newcastle solution of lockouts and earlier closing times, despite strong warnings from the Police Association and the Australian Medical Association - and the fact these measures resulted in a 37 per cent fall in violent assaults;

The government has, to date, steadfastly refused to act. But Hospitality Minister George Souris said the government would consider all of the 91 recommendations in the Liquor Act review, and would provide a response next month.

AMA NSW head Brian Owler said in the submission  there was no excuse for not trialling the Newcastle solution on a statewide level, given the big drop in assaults.

"This is a staggering figure. If a new medical treatment were shown to reduce harm by more than 35 per cent, it would be adopted as best practice,'' Dr Owler said,

The government has, to date, steadfastly refused to act. But Hospitality Minister George Souris said the government would consider all of the 91 recommendations in the Liquor Act review, and would provide a response next month.

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Wonder who's keeping Mr. Souris in beer and skittles?

[icyfroth]

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@azureline** wrote:

New Years Eve was a prime example of the culture of alcohol drinking at home. Emergency services here were under stress with calls to homes where whole families were drunk, children as young as 10yo included, where violence had broken out.

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That's unbelievabel Az.

It's really time to crack down on the glamourisation, advertising and ready availability of alcohol.

[azureline**]

It's actually worse that that Icy, the 10 yo may not survive.

[i-need-a-martini]

But why close early when the vast majority are people like me going out with friends until the early hours? Why should I be penalised because some yobbos haven't been taught how to drink properly?

And how does closing early stop anyone anyway? Thomas Kelly was king hit at 10pm. Daniel Christie was king hit at 9pm. How early do you want to close?

We seriously need to look at the underlying cause and resolve that rather than bandaid fixes.

[cherry*135]

Maybe one size fits all in regards to licensing hours doesn't apply to all cities in Australia? .Sydney is the major city/global tourist  attraction in Australia...people expect bars etc to be open into the early hours of the morning. 

The young man (18yo) that is critically ill in hospital  after being king hit on NYE in Sydney, was hit at  9pm.. a 1am curfew wouldn't have prevented that tragedy. The boof head that hit him started drinking at 3pm that day.

[cherry*135]

The penalties for king hitting another person and killing them whilst drunk need to be increased. Thomas Kelly's killer got 4 years in jail. 4 years for killing an innocent 18yo minding his own business walking down a Sydney street at 10pm.

[azureline**]

at 12 midday here, the local bottleshop attendant was assaulted by a drunk he refused to serve.

[donnashuggy]

There aren't many pubs in Bondi when you consider the popuation but my closest 2 closed at 10 pm on New Year, they just don't want the trouble. Yet there are a record number of licences being issued. Years ago you had to eat something to be served alcohol, now it is everywhere.

If blokes just stuck to beer I think it would make a difference.

[icyfroth]

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@am*3 wrote:

The penalties for king hitting another person and killing them whilst drunk need to be increased. Thomas Kelly's killer got 4 years in jail. 4 years for killing an innocent 18yo minding his own business walking down a Sydney street at 10pm.

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Totally agree re the penalty, Am but that's not much comfort to a grieving family.

Really, you'd want measures taken pre-tragedy rather than penalties post-tragedy.

[icyfroth]

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azureline** wrote

It's actually worse that that Icy, the 10 yo may not survive.

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OMG Really!? Do you have a link?

[cherry*135]

The aim of the increased penatly is intended to be a deterent in the future for the yobbo's that think king hitting random strangers is an OK thing to do... to avoid anymore of these tragic needless deaths.

The grieving parents who have lost their sons so far, are the ones advocating for these changes...hopeing to prevent other families having to go through what they have had to to through.