START OF HAMILTON HOTEL TRADING CHANGES
The NSW government’s new Hamilton restrictions start Friday, 11 December 2009.
Inner city resident group spokesman Mr Tony Brown described the decision as “too little – too late”.
Mr Brown said the government has made no change to the current voluntary 3.30 closing and 1.30am curfew that has failed to reduce alcohol violence.
This is despite BOCSAR identifying reducing trading hours by 2 hrs cut alcohol related violence in Newcastle by 30%.
The only significant difference is that the closing times and curfew are now legally enforceable.
Ban on shots and bombs start now after 10pm where as before it was 12 midnight.
We believe that insufficient is being done to cut the high levels of intoxication and failed RSA that is the major contributor to ARV and anti social behaviour in Hamilton.
The government will review the decision in 6 months. How many more alcohol related deaths and bashing will we experience during this period in Hamilton?
The government continues to fail to listen to its own independent experts in BOCSAR, the Police Commissioner and D/G of Health. A maximum 2am closing as advocated by the Police commissioner would have been a positive first step,” said Mr Brown.
Commenting on the implementation of section 79 conditions, President of the Hamilton Liquor Accord, Mr Stephen Hunt, said:
Members of the Hamilton Liquor Accord look forward to continuing to work with Police and OLGR representatives in implementing the new conditions, the accord requests that the general public show patience and understanding during the phase in period.
At this stage I cannot speculate as to the outcomes over the weekend but do know that all parties involved have been working hard to ensure that everything will run smoothly."
Salvos endorse police blitz on drunken violence
The Salvation Army strongly endorses “Operation Unite”, the police crackdown on alcohol-related violence, to take place this weekend across Australia and New Zealand.
Gerard Byrne of The Salvation Army Recovery Services emphasised the need to address the overuse of alcohol in the Australian community, and associated violent behaviour.
It’s time to change the way we use alcohol as a community. The misuse of alcohol is closely linked with violent behaviour,” he said.
National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) research indicates a direct link between volumes of alcohol consumed in a community and the level of violence experienced, revealing 43% of people who commit violence are intoxicated at the time. Recent NDRI research shows a link between extended alcohol venue trading hours and admissions to emergency departments in hospitals.
Similarly, research by the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (AERF) found other issues associated with drunkenness, such as property damage and loud and unruly street behaviour, are more of a problem for people who live closer to licensed premises than for people who live some distance away.
We also believe the question must be asked: ‘What happens when those involved in alcohol-related violence return to their homes?”
The community is concerned with the situation. Recent AERF research shows more than 14 million Australians are concerned about alcohol-related violence.
As the police blitz takes place over the next two days, we would like to remind the community that local Salvos will be out and about conducting their normal pub and hotel ministry this Friday night. The Salvos are available to offer a listening ear or to assist in any other way they can, particularly for people and families where alcohol issues are prevalent.
Close to 1 in 5 Australians say they or someone in their life has been affected by alcohol-related violence. The Salvation Army hopes that this combined effort by the police will assist in combating the problem,” said Byrne.
