Melbourne's Alcohol Debate

[ecclipse83]

As the debate grows over the Governments "2am" curfew on entering licensed venues in Melbourne, the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia argues that alcohol consumption levels have dropped over the past 40 years.

The Victorian Government has announced moves to impose a curfew across Melbourne's major municipalities of the city of Melbourne, city of Yarra, city of Port Phillip and the city of Stonnington, exemptions will be in place for The floor of Crown Casino, restaurants and clubs such as RSL clubs will be exempt from the lockout restriction.

It follows similar lockouts in the Victorian regional cities of Ballarat, Warrnambool and Bendigo, as well as in Queensland, which Mental Health Minister Lisa Neville said had reduced violence.

Melbourne drinkers will not be able to enter bars, pubs and nightclubs after 2am, under a three-month trial aimed at curbing the rise in violent, alcohol-fuelled assaults. Violent assaults rose by about 17.5 per cent in Melbourne in the last year.

What does all this mean for Melbourne's Gay Bars

You will not be able to enter the following "Gay Bars" under these restrictions.
1. The Market Hotel, South Yarra (open til 8.30am)
2. Xchange Hotel, South Yarra
3. Heavens Door, South Yarra (currently under application for a 5am license)
4. Love Machine, South Yarra
5. Diva Bar, South Yarra (if it ever re-opens)
6. Blonde on the Rocks, CBD
7. The Glasshouse, Collingwood
8. The Laird, Collingwood
9, Sircut, Fitzroy
10, The Peel, Collingwood (open until 7am)
11, Yorshire Stingo Hotel, Abotsford
12, The opium Den, Collingwood
13. a Bar called Barry, Fitzroy
14, Traffik, St Kilda
15, The prince of wales, St Kilda
16, Club Valve, Windsor

Gay Venues not effected by the 2am lockout
1. Commercial Hotel, Yarraville
2. The Balgravia Hotel, Footscray


:-)

[justgowithit]

Yeah, it's a bit of a hassle. It is going to affect some business irrevocably... (i think, maybe not?).

The lesbian venues won't really be affected as the girls like to get there early, but the early-closing pubs such as the Exchange and DTs will most likely be affected as people will abandon in order to get to the next place by 2am.

The Market is open until 10am, so hopefully the lock-out will be lifted at around 5am. Does anybody know what time it will be lifted?

I feel like i am living in a Nazi State and it really annoys me that a bunch of irresponsible boguns have hampered my social life.

[mindstar]

The lockouts are lifted at 7am

there's some folks who are organising a protest against the lockout over on samesame's sister site inthemix.com.au

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=19945600559

[justgowithit]

This was printed in a recent edition of The Age:

Australian Hotels Association Victoria chief executive officer Brian Kearney said it tentatively supported a 2am lockout, with the proviso that "low-risk'' venues be excluded.

"The success or otherwise of these lock-outs is very much dependent on the terms and conditions that apply to them and we would be hoping that the director of Liquor Licensing has some flexibility in the way she intends to apply them,'' Mr Kearney said.

Let's hope that gay clubs can argue convincingly that they are low risk. I know for a fact that The Market has a very good track record in relation to violence, so... fingers crossed ;)

The lockouts are lifted at 7am... what are they trying to do? Create another 'recovery party' culture?

[mindstar]

Let's hope that gay clubs can argue convincingly that they are low risk. I know for a fact that The Market has a very good track record in relation to violence, so... fingers crossed ;)

considering the market's proxmity to revolver thats highly unlikely and chapel street/commercial road has been identified as a problem area.

[Ruffnut]

So you are just gunna have to make sure you are at the venue you want to finish your night out in by 2am. I don't think it will be that much of a problem for everyone. I can see this taking hold in Sydney too.

But be wary of walking the streets after 2am because all the problem hooligans will be out there.

[taylor-dayne]

does a curfew really SOLVE the real problem here? no! we need better security and better ways to nip problems in the bud before they get out of control...

if people weren't allowed to get so drunk, and if there were really severe consequences for people who did, then perhaps we could start getting into the heads of these louts...

i don't see why everyone's civil liberties have to be revoked because of hooligans!

(i sound like my mother!)

[Chancethegardener]

I'm not a fan of bars on a Friday or Saturday night anyway, and I'm more likely to frequent restaurants with friends and stay till late most of the time. But the whole lockout policy is a bit silly. It's clearly policy on the run.

The way I see it is that a culture exists amongst some people where drinking to get plastered and causing a ruckus is top night out. Obviously this is a minority. But being a cultural problem that's arisen over the past decade, it's likely to take as long to eradicate. Even then you probably won't rid the city of it all together, particularly with policy like this.

I think that venues should have more responsibility. I know when I have been to clubs and popular bars in the past I have always seen obviously blotto people being served drinks by bar staff. Some stumble and fall to the bar to order drinks. What ever happened to responsible service of alcohol?

[ecclipse83]

I'm not a fan of bars on a Friday or Saturday night anyway, and I'm more likely to frequent restaurants with friends and stay till late most of the time....... What ever happened to responsible service of alcohol?

Marry me!! i am more of a restaurant bloke to!!

Responsible service of alcohol still exists but do bar tenders exercise the right to enforce it ?

[Chancethegardener]

hahaha. No chance. Partnered and disgustingly happy....!

[ecclipse83]

hahaha. No chance. Partnered and disgustingly happy....!

Eww... happy can you give me a lesson or two ... (and i am really honestly anti-marriage as i keep raging on the forums)

Hope all is well

[justgowithit]

I think that venues should have more responsibility. I know when I have been to clubs and popular bars in the past I have always seen obviously blotto people being served drinks by bar staff. Some stumble and fall to the bar to order drinks. What ever happened to responsible service of alcohol?

Good point!

[Gemini_1976]

So once everyone is locked out and returns to their cars and camp out in streets and car parks, is there going to be more police ensuring people are protected from wasted street dwellers, not to mention the boom of house parties in the burbs.

I recently walked away from the Club scene (you don't meet Mr Right with poor disco lighting and especially when his eyes are rolling in the back of his head whilst he dances like jennifer beals in flashdance)... however I have to say that secuirty was pretty good not allowing those very few people who just need to go home... however I have to say that most of the bar staff were more than too happy to serve up freebies to clearly wasted patrons to ensure they return week after week... yep, that was me...... nearly 2 months sober now.... GOD I COULD WITH A DRINK... QUICK ONLY 5hrs 15mins BEFORE LOCKOUT... "YA BLOODY BITCH" - Sheila Florence a.k.a Lizzie Birdsworth

[ecclipse83]

i don't go out anymore but i still drink ... more police are you joking

[justgowithit]

I recently walked away from the Club scene

Well, there's nothing there anyway!

How are you finding life away from it all? I sometimes wonder...

[Blair]

Curfew will not go ahead if common sense prevails. If it does the market trades 10-8.30 on Fridays which means people can enter between 10am-2am and after 7.00am ( Saturdays )and 10pm -2am and after 7 am ( Sunday mornings ). Market stays open till 11am Sunday. This law will fuel home parties, unsupervised without responsible serving of alcohol, security, survaillance camera's ans no access to police - people will take the law into their own hands. The streets will be carnage between 2 and 7am. No pubic transport, no police prescence, lack of taxi's...... the stupidity and arguments against this proposed curfew in a city like Melbourne just goes on and on....

When injustice becomes Law
Resistance becomes duty !

[ecclipse83]

if everyone who opposes the curfew attends the official protest on 30th May at 5pm @ Treasury Gardens, then public opinion will send a message to the government that this is an unpopular and unsupported law and that it does not reflect the community's mindset..

or a massive dance party

[justgowithit]

The streets will be carnage between 2 and 7am. No pubic transport, no police prescence

That's actually a plausable and scarey thought. Imagine the Prahran 'Safeway' carpark if this law comes into play.

[mindstar]

The streets will be carnage between 2 and 7am. No pubic transport, no police prescence, lack of taxi's...... the stupidity and arguments against this proposed curfew in a city like Melbourne just goes on and on....


how many people seriously club-hop at those hours?

yes I think the curfew is a bit daft but its not as drastic or dramatic as everyone is making it out to be.

The only real affect I can see is that smokers can't go out and smoke

and how is this a breach of civil liberties?

Civil liberties set limits for government so that it cannot abuse its power and interfere with the lives of its citizens.

Common civil liberties include freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech, and additionally, the right to due process, to fair trial, to own property, to keep and bear arms and to privacy.

Now the business that you are attending are granted licences by the government. So the government modifying those licences isn't in fact a breach of your civil liberties. They are only amending licencing conditions.

I love how people always automatically flog the civil liberties horse - I really do

[Blair]

Imagine if you were told that you could not respond to a forum message between certain hours? Civil liberties are the basis of our common law. This curfew is a great abuse of power and limits your right as citizen to choose what you legally choose to do. It's that simple.

Go and live in China if you think we wave the democratic civil liberty banner in an inappropriate way. The proposed curfew is also in breach of Trade Practices Acts and Fair Trading by allowing exemptions without consultation. You mention "they are only amending licencing conditions" - not so... The are ammending chosen areas and venues - not licencing laws. Imagine if gay venues were told via "declaration" that they cannot trade. I suspect you're young. You probably don't understand Stonewall and The Gay Civil Rights protests in 1978 in Sydney. Goverments also have a responsibility in this country to debate why they change laws and explain what they are trying to achieve. This is why we have the lower and upper house. The curfew was announced as a "declaration"...Only ever used in times of war. If you feel that civil liberties in this country are not important, just look at something you choose to do which is legal and imagine you are told you cannot do it.

This issue is more than just civil rights.... it's going to create an unsafe environment in the streets of Melbourne. ( the ' problem people ' should be targeted and locked up - which isn't happening because of a lack of police resources ) . The problem as I see it is clearly that underage ethnic gangs who are under 18, hunting in packs causing chaos in the city.

Tourism in this city will suffer enormously and the ripple effect will be huge.

Civil Rights are important mindstar. Take a day out and look at a few history documents. I suspect you are gay....imagine a declaration being made that all gay people should not be permitted to use public transport for fear of spreading disease?? Don't think it's not possible - In 1985 it was debated very heavily.

[mindstar]

Imagine if you were told that you could not respond to a forum message between certain hours? Civil liberties are the basis of our common law. This curfew is a great abuse of power and limits your right as citizen to choose what you legally choose to do. It's that simple.

it is rather simple and i don't see how this is a breach of civil liberties
so you can't go from the xchange to the market at 3:30am
Hell its not like you can go to Myer at 5:30am
oh noes!!!! I can't shop for shoes its a breach of my civil liberties!!! See thats where the civil liberties claim becomes a bit spurious because applying your logic, myer not being open at 5:30am is a breach of my civil liberties.

The proposed curfew is also in breach of Trade Practices Acts and Fair Trading by allowing exemptions without consultation.

Queensland has a 3am curfew that has been in place for over a year. So I'm guessing bring the TPA into this is also a tad spurious. Because to be honest I don't see how it breaches the TPA (and there are sections in the TPA that allow for government restrictions of trading - take your own advice and do some research).


I suspect you're young. You probably don't understand Stonewall and The Gay Civil Rights protests in 1978 in Sydney.

no of course I don't because I'm young and silly and stupid and i don't give a single damn about social justice etc... Thanks for the insult. For the record I'm 10 years younger than you and I fought with the folks who got homosexuality decriminalised in queensland in 1992. So please in future don't make wild assumptions.

Goverments also have a responsibility in this country to debate why they change laws and explain what they are trying to achieve. This is why we have the lower and upper house.

they have the responsibility to govern for the good of the people. Thats what government is about. Consultation isn't required on every law. Thats why we elect people to government to make decisions for us.

This issue is more than just civil rights.... it's going to create an unsafe environment in the streets of Melbourne. ( the ' problem people ' should be targeted and locked up - which isn't happening because of a lack of police resources ) . The problem as I see it is clearly that underage ethnic gangs who are under 18, hunting in packs causing chaos in the city.

I still don't see this as being a civil rights issue sorry. I don't agree with the unsafe environment issue - that hasn't been the experience in brisbane from what I've seen or heard.

Tourism in this city will suffer enormously and the ripple effect will be huge.

Unlikely - the curfew had no effect on tourism on the gold coast.

[mindstar]

oh and just so we're all clear on this

I do actually oppose the curfew - I just don't see it as a breach of anyone's civil liberties

[Blair]

I understand what you are saying regarding civil rights .... My apologies for assuming you were young...
In Brisbane the curfew has been a disaster. The streets are full of louts and there is talk of reversing the curfew to cut back the violence in homes and in public places...

Pleased to read you oppose the curfew.

[Ruffnut]

Bring back the 6pm closing times - now that will really piss everyone off except the religous right who seem to be influencing the running of this country. Soon they will make it compulsory for us all to go back to church every Sunday and while they are at it bring back eating only fish on Fridays. Ah I can smell a Spanish inquisition coming up......

[ecclipse83]

The Govt. hands out licenses for bottleshops left, right and centre. Perhaps it needs some regulation there...


no new license will be issued in the 3 month period apparently

[mindstar]

That is not in the spirit (pardon the pun) of the use of liquor licenses. How would you feel if you owned a licenced venue and the goal posts for the running of your busniess where changed. This will affect your bottom line, your life style and your employees.

at 2am how many people are actually drinking?

think about that for a second (especially in gay venues)

I still don't see the curfew as a breach of civil liberties, its a daft piece of policy - yes, its a knee-jerk reaction, yes.

oh and just food for thought have a read here -> http://www.inthemix.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=224379
I don't see anyone claiming a breach of civil liberties...
a lot of people are upset and angry but noone from what I have read is screaming about their civil liberties
just an interesting obversation

[Blair]

Venues are so highly regulated these days. They are business owners who are certainly not trying to "feather their pockets." Give an example?

The only feathering of pockets going on with this 2am curfew will be the Casino in a BIG way, RSL's and 24 hour bottle shops.

If you are in the hospitality business you'd know. They provide safe environments for people to unwind and socialise. CCT Camera's, Responsible serving regulations, Health and safety provisions, Security...the list goes on and on ... Yes, there may be a few who are not responsible, but don't throw the whole industry into the same basket.

Your train of thought is exactly that of the Govt. Punish all, because a few people are causing trouble in the streets of the city. Those doing things incorrectly should be targeted only. In this case, target the young kids causing havoc and lock them up!

Alcohol and drugs are a social problem stemming right through our society. Take the Melb. Cup for example... Thousands getting drunk and lot's of illegal drugs on the track and associated events for weeks ! The country town of Moe... A major herion problem. The outer suburbs of Melbourne... Major amphetimine problem.... Local footy teams - major alcholol abuse....

Why blame ONLY licenced venues, saying they turn a blind eye.... I think all facets of society, Govt. and police "turn a blind eye" for their own vested interests.

[justgowithit]

It amuses me when those that break the law (drug-taking is illegal isn't it?!), often shout the loudest and play the 'law' card when it suits them.

[Blair]

What is amusing? Please give an example Of course there are drugs that people take that are illegal. Doh! What is it that you are trying to say?

[justgowithit]

Blair,

What is amusing (said in a colloquial way) is that people don't mind breaking the law, but when it comes to the Govt. setting new laws, they claim that the Govt is acting illegally.

It's really quite simple.

[Blair]

Ok... I now understand you, however working for the Govt. in a senior role has just made me very cynical about how and why some decisions are made...

[Blair]

www.melbournelockedout.com

[Marshy]

Went to the protest on Friday night and am pleased that some of the venues I go to have been granted an exemption. Well, more relieved to be honest.

[Blair]

yep...As I know it, Commercial Road Gay Venues : The Market, Xchange and Heavens Door will all be able to Trade as Normal !