On tonights TV news there was a segment where rank and file Police, ambulance officers and hospital staff are calling for more restrictions on the opening hours for pubs, clubs and other licenced premises.

The object is to reduce the ammount of street violence that occurs in our cities late at night and early mornings.

I was intrigued that one reason that some put in opposing this is that many will be out of work. The NSW Premier said we would become a 'wowser' state.

Hell, we survived for many years with general 10pm closing for most pubs and around 12-1am for other premises. So why can we not revert to that again. I enjoy a drink as much as anyone, but do we really need 24 hours to get a few drinks.

It seems to me that many young people are not mature enough to handle the almost unfettered drinking hours they now enjoy. Our emergency workers are not punching bags for the out of control young.

The cost of having police, ambulance and emergency staff at hospitals is escalating and something needs to be done.

There is no suggestion that we become 'wowsers', which is an exageration by the premier. The now liberal licencing laws have caused more trouble than they are worth.

I would like opinions please. Oh, and reasons if possible.

It's not a particularly easy decision.

>>Hell, we survived for many years with general 10pm closing for most pubs and around 12-1am for other premises. So why can we not revert to that again.<<

We also "survived" the pubs closing at 6p.m., as I recall.

What I remember most of the "six o'clock swill" was that all the pubs in the city had tiles on the walls, up to head height, to make it easier for the staff to hose down the puke.

Not a pretty sight.

A "better" solution these days, rather than prescribing a "one-size-fits-all" remedy, might be to make the venues themselves more responsible for the state of their patrons.

Perhaps this could be achieved by making it easier for the local court to close them down for a period. If you know that you might have to close down tomorrow for - say - a month, you might find innovative ways to manage your patrons.

After all, your customers would have an interest in keeping you open, too.

A beer on a hot day? Yep, sure. A beer or two is great as a thirst quencher. I feel sorry for the majority of Australians who need an alcohol fuelled "high" to be happy.
Just a bit of atmosphere and good company influences my happiness rating.

Yeah, Pericles first cab off the rank - boom TISH - and being spot on is a practical 'double tap' to the back of the head of this topic.

I've stood out the front of a couple of pubs as an employee watching the consequence of lack of self control + piss + arrogance + mental disorders + poon tang (or the lack thereof) + a healthy wallet + oxygen and its effect on mankind. Ain't a pretty sight and no amount of restricting hours, excluding MAYBE 11pm or midnight close, would end in the positive.

You might have to consider a rise in unemployment again because of less hours in the hospitality industry as a result as well.

Banjo answer to first bit is maybe, well yes in most cases.
It is a problem so here is may view as to why.
The drunks are not always just drunks.
The young leave half finished drinks and start new ones, hiding some it pot plants and just about every place.
Those type drink to be part of the crowd, may binge drink even if they do not like it.
And more trouble comes from this group when drunk than most.
Newcastle, the birth place of this idea needed the intervention.
Just as those younger drunks wanted to be seen drinking, some thugs wanted to be seen fighting.
I support the emergency services on this, in the end few of us have to carry the load at work they do.

I think another important option to consider is the opening/closing times of other venues. If more shops, restaurants and other recreational places remained open for longer you might keep some people out of the bars, making smaller groups of people that are easier to manage, as opposed to everyone who doesn't feel like staying home being compressed into the pubs and nightclubs.

And more importantly- it means we don't have to squeeze in our shopping during work hours or peak hour- especially now that more members per family work these days.

One solution might be to have more suburban pubs with the longer hours. This will spread the drunks out and people with existing grudges are less likely to cross paths. In addition, presently, drunken idiots can be kicked out of one club, walk 100mtrs and get in somewhere else. If they are kicked out of the only club in the suburb, it is more of a deterent.

I think we may well need to consider a 'legal limit' while in a public place. Let's say, .1. To much to drive, but not to much to be intoxicated to the extent whereby they become vilent. After all, anyone wanting to go out, have a few drinks with the mates won't be effected by a limit of .1.

Perhaps you should have to provide a sample before being served.

Police would be better for it as there would be less trouble and most decent caring people wouldn't be bothered at all.

But, as always, the decent caring people are not the ones causing the problems, are they!

Some very good ideas.

It would be interesting to see which one is tried first.

Pericles,
You must be older than I thought, to remember 6 O'Clock closing. I was not old enough to drink when that ended, and yes it was a swill.

It is easy enough to get into a fight in a pub/club. An accidental bump or spilt drink, etc. Alcohol effects people differently. There are happy drunks and some that simply want to fight and they go looking for it, any excuse will do. These types a a big problem.

Two questions.
1. Is there not self regulation now on pubs/clubs not supposed to serve drunks more drinks? Perhaps that is like doing away with speed limits and asking drivers to drive sensibly! After all, the publican is in business to make money from the sale of drinks.

2. I had forgotten about the Newcastle trial, can someone please refresh me on this and is it still going and the results?

Interesting thread. Taking all points into consideration, I think benk has come up with the best suggestion so far.

Banjo - I heard something on the radio recently (this morning, ABC I think) about the Newcastle trial. From what I recall, it's been quite a success in terms of reducing crime, but devastating for venues - several of which have recently shut their doors.

Mind you, I'm rarely seen in a pub after 8 o'clock, and I haven't been to a nightclub in years - so what would I know really? My 20 year old student son doesn't drink or do drugs and nightclubs, so I have no insight there either :(

I'm not sure that early closure is the answer.

I agree with Pericles that nighclub operators
must take responsibility as well. They should
ensure that their staff encourage and monitor
responsible drinking -
not binge drinking by their patrons.

Patrons also who come into the city must
take responsibility for their actions.
Attitudes need to change. A stronger police
presence around our entertainment precincts
especially in the city on Friday and Saturday
nights in summer would be a good idea. As would
police vans fitted with cameras stationed at hot
spots.

Another part of the problem could be the lack of
cabs around closing times - as well as the unavailability
of public transport. This encourages anti-social
behaviour.

Of course night clubs being more responsible for their patrons is important but the problem is deeper than that. I will put it straight first. I drink, love to drink and as a twenty something was know to get a bit messy, children changed all that. Alcohol is a drug, and one without peer in our society. All the elicit drugs put together cause less social destruction and health costs than alcohol. Why then is it so hard to understand the need to seriously regulate this stuff. The answer, money. The businesses, the tax income the losses are all to much to face. If it is a personal choice and we are not forced to drink then morally all the elicit drugs must be legalised. Hell i used plenty of them as a youth and still managed a career and life without crime and depravity. So did my mates only saw one friend loose it and we all got around and helped him. He has a good life now, doing better than me. The point is either drugs are out, all drugs or they are in, stop the hypocrisy based on money. Stop the easy access, make alcohol abuse a reportable disease under the health act and require people to do rehab as we do with elicit drugs. Close the bottle shops, restrict purchasing hours and quantities, introduce alcohol cards so you can only buy one drink an hour at the pubs and clubs. If this hurts these businesses so much compensate them to close. Maybe more people will goin the local tennis club or footy team.