Lockdown!

[LEANBAC]

DRINKERS will be banned from entering inner-city pubs, clubs and bars after 2am in a bid to combat alcohol-fuelled crime.

The lock-out law will be revealed by Premier John Brumby as part of sweeping measures to fight the alcohol abuse.

The State Government will order more than 500 late-night licence holders to impose the curfew in a three-month trial to stop pub crawls that lead to violence.

Publicans who fail to enforce the policy in four inner-city councils will be hit with fines of up to $6800.

The Herald Sun believes smokers who leave pubs and clubs after 2am to light up on the streets will be banned from returning.

what do you think about this?

[dmac_25]

That sucks if you want to pub crawl

[stolen_s15]

Wont affect me cause I never drink in the city anymore, and will probably do some good.

I'd be very upset if they did this in St Kilda though.

Will be intersting to see what happens.

[DNGRUS]

..i actully think its a good idea

[Snowman]

It's really going to upset the glow-stick brigade since most of them don't even go out til 2am!

[LEANBAC]

so does that mean, we stay in till closing time, DRINKING? an brawl at the end of the night, with all the angry / drunk people that got kicked out?

[phunky_monkey]

What a joke.

The smoking thing is ridiculous, not all pubs/nightspots have a smoking area.

Hasty patch to a larger problem...

Nick: I think it may affect St Kilda as well. They say CBD, but were also saying it affects other areas, so I'd say that would be Richmond, St Kilda, Brunswick, Chapel st...

[DogKnight]

I see the sense in it. But in the end it could be inconvenient. I dont usually go bar hopping, but on occasion a party will change location or there will be two birthdays to go to on the same night.

[evade]

just means big afterparties at whoevers house haha..if you leave that is

[LEANBAC]

''smokers who leave pubs and clubs after 2am to have a smoke outside will be banned from returning''

so do you smoke inside? an get kicked out!! or kick yourself out by going outside to have a smoke?

[R31Nismoid]

Yeah i just got an email with it

more details (probably from a news article)

Fairly stupid and shit. I know myself that i like to change clubs a bit around 1am-3am or so as DJ's change veunes etc.

This is going to massively hurt some clubs, massive to a point of ridiclous

DRINKERS will be banned from entering inner-city pubs, clubs and bars after 2am in a bid to combat alcohol-fuelled crime.

The lock-out law will be revealed by Premier John Brumby as part of sweeping measures to fight the alcohol abuse.

The State Government will order more than 500 late-night licence holders to impose the curfew in a three-month trial to stop pub crawls that lead to violence.

Publicans who fail to enforce the policy in four inner-city councils will be hit with fines of up to $6800.

The Herald Sun believes smokers who leave pubs and clubs after 2am to light up on the streets will be banned from returning.

Patrons who are already inside a venue will be able to stay after 2am but cannot leave and then re-enter.

The lock-out trial follows a Herald Sun campaign against booze-fuelled crime and the health risks associated with excessive drinking.

A government taskforce is believed to have responded to calls by police to clamp down on gangs of young drunks on pub crawls in inner Melbourne.

The drunks move from club to club, causing chaos.

The prime targets are the city nightclub precincts but the trial - almost certain to become government policy after three months - will embrace four local government areas.

They are the Melbourne, Yarra, Stonnington and Port Phillip councils.

The Herald Sun believes the curfew will be part of a series of measures - including an advertising blitz - to deal with alcohol problems.

The Government's alcohol taskforce findings are expected to be announced as early as today, with speculation centring on a number of measures ranging from new health initiatives to a campaign against drinking.

One cause of concern has been the large number of drunk smokers congregating outside pubs and clubs.

The lock-out will last for five hours, giving police time to clear the streets and for drunks to sober up.

The three-month trial will be enforced by the director of Liquor Licensing, who has been criticised over an explosion in the number of alcohol licences across Victoria.

There has been a strong push to overhaul the way liquor licences are handed out, with the Government rubber-stamping licences on the evidence of private building surveyors rather than the work of public servants.

It is believed that there will be some changes to the licensing regime.

A spokeswoman for Mr Brumby said: "The Premier has indicated the Government will be releasing an alcohol plan shortly which will look at ways to combat the social and health problems associated with alcohol abuse."

Under the law and order crackdown Crown casino's gaming floor will be exempt from the trial on the understanding that people would not head there in large numbers after 2am because it is primarily a gaming venue.

Restaurants and RSLs will also be exempt.

Queensland has a state-wide 3am lockout system while Ballarat, Bendigo and Warrnambool have all reported significant falls in crime after imposing a curfew.

Mr Brumby last year declared alcohol to be the biggest social issue facing Victoria and the biggest threat to young Victorians.

The Premier set up a ministerial taskforce to investigate all issues relating to alcohol abuse and as part of that review, decided to trial the three-month ban.

Police have noted a dramatic increase in CBD assaults, with a 17.5 per cent increase over the 2006-07 financial year.

Crime experts have calculated that 47 per cent of all people accused of assault are affected by alcohol and 43 per cent of victims are also under the influence.

Health experts want the ministerial taskforce to back a broad range of measures to deal with the alcohol problem, covering advertising, mixed alcoholic drinks, higher prices and a strategy to confront a culture of binge drinking.

[Wyseman]

A small group of people who can't handle their drink and cause trouble have now ruined it for people who just want a good night out.

This won't bother me a bit, but then i don't get so trolleyed that i'm likely to be considered too drunk to let back in.

Big thumbs up to the Government.

[GTR_STEALTH]

Implemented in Ballarat rather successfully....

[Basti]

hopefully this alcohol hype takes the spotlight off hoons

[Grant]

Implemented in Ballarat rather successfully....

+1.

It's been here for several years now, I'm pretty sure it's 3am though, not 2am? Smokers are also given some leniency if the venue has no smoking area.

I think Bendigo might have the same thing going on?

[phunky_monkey]

A small group of people who can't handle their drink and cause trouble have now ruined it for people who just want a good night out.

This won't bother me a bit, but then i don't get so trolleyed that i'm likely to be considered too drunk to let back in.

Big thumbs up to the Government.

It's not about being too drunk though, it's a steadfast rule that is saying no matter what state you're in, you are not allowed to re-enter the premesis.

This will hurt some business massively in my opinion. I was at a place on the weekend which has no smoking area, forcing you onto the street. I won't ever go there once the law is introduced, and I'm sure many other would be the same.

This is what irrates me. They bring in a ban on smoking inside, but do not have the infrastructure to support it. It's no illegal, we CHOOSE to do it, why should we be penalised for it?!

End rant.

[dezz]

the local shit hole here, 'Volt' has had this in place of a very long time now....I've been there once since turning 18, 4 years ago because a mates party ended up there, but other than that its an absolute shit hole....

As for the law working there, I can't say as I don't go, but the joint itself is quite rough..plenty of action at regular intervals....They've also got a scanner on the door to scan your licence before letting you enter.

[R31Nismoid]

Yeah license scanners have been in use for years.

I used to go to the Somerville hotel a bit 98/99 as a mate of mine was @ Cerberus/Crib Point... and they were scanning ID's way back then.

I must admit though, one of the roughests (and funniest) places ive ever been

But yeah... some clubs like Circus, TFU, CQ Qbar dont get decent until 1-3am so i catchup with other friends at various places first and then move along here and there

Now i'll have to be careful when/where i am so i dont have my night cut short.

Yet another stupid & retarded band-air Gov't action...

Put more Police on the streets, crack down on clubs serving people that are intoxicated, stop the mass handout of liquor licences

These problems wouldnt be occuring... so this is yet another band aid that wont FKING WORK!

Just like 80 on the whole westgate/citylink section - thats still pissing me off

[dezz]

I've never seen a licence scanner at a decent club yet...only at the local shit hole so far..

I heard something about CQ having their licence cut from 600 to 200 also..

[DogKnight]

Whats got me wondering is if 2am they'll put a rope across the end of queues to stop people from joining a queue. Or if you get there at 12:30 and are queueing till 2am, are they going to automatically turn you away at that stage. Despite when you started queueing?

Its usually not that bad, but I have been to a couple of venues where you can easily queue 30-60 mkinutes waiting to get in.