 | Friday, 2 May, 2008
VICTORIA’S ALCOHOL ACTION PLAN TO RESTORE THE BALANCE
A five-year $37.2 million Alcohol Action Plan will address the significant human and economic impact of alcohol abuse by tackling the areas of health, community education, alcohol advertising and enhanced enforcement.
Under the plan, alcohol-related violence in the inner city will be targeted through the introduction, by the Director of Liquor Licensing, of a three-month trial of 2am late entry bans for pubs, bars and nightclubs.
During the trial, licensees in the inner city council areas of Port Phillip, Stonnington, Melbourne including Docklands and Yarra councils cannot allow patrons to enter their venues from 2am to 7am. Patrons who are already in a venue can remain until closing time but cannot leave and re-enter the premises.
A 12-month freeze on new late-night liquor licences in Port Phillip, Stonnington, Melbourne and Yarra municipalities will be implemented from today and will prevent any new applications for liquor licenses that would operate after 1am.
A $17.6 million Liquor Licensing Compliance Directorate will be established in the Department of Justice to significantly strengthened enforcement of liquor licensing laws across Victoria.
Premier John Brumby said the directorate will look at innovative ways of enforcement such as using underage operatives as has been done to prevent tobacco sales to minors.
“This directorate will be responsible for the inspection and enforcement of liquor licence laws and will be staffed by 30 inspectors and six lawyers,” Mr Brumby said.
“This will free-up police from doing routine licence checks and enable their liquor licensing squad to focus on licensing issues that are directly causing violence in and around venues.
“This builds on the significant work the government and Victoria Police has been doing with the establishment last year of the 50 person strong Safe Streets Taskforce and the introduction of banning notices from entertainment precincts of which 111 have already been issued.”
Mr Brumby said alcohol abuse is the biggest social issue facing Victoria and decisive action was needed to restore the balance between our vibrant nightlife and the increase in alcohol-related violence, anti-social behaviour and alcohol related health problems.
“Late last year I set up a taskforce, chaired by Mental Health Minister Lisa Neville, to bring together a range of work that was being done across government to address this serious issue. The plan they have delivered will enable Victoria to tackle both the root causes and the outcomes of alcohol abuse,” Mr Brumby said.
Ms Neville said the case for action was overwhelming with 64 per cent of 18-24 year olds and 32 per cent of 14-17 year olds binge drinking and alcohol directly linked to 24,714 inpatient hospitalisations, 759 deaths and 57 road deaths and 8850 assaults each year.
“The cost to the Australian community of alcohol abuse through lost productivity and social and health impacts is $15.3 billion a year,” Ms Neville said.
Key features of the Victorian Alcohol Action Plan include:
$9.4 million for the Quality Care for Alcohol Problems Project to help GPs and primary health teams by providing support for specialists trained in treating addiction and alcohol-related problems;
$4.3 million for an awareness campaign to encourage a safe and sensible approach to alcohol use;
Higher definition standards for security cameras at late-night venues to allow police to better track offenders;
$4.7 million for early intervention and prevention initiatives to encourage problem drinkers to seek help or change their drinking habits, which includes an online and telephone screening service for people to determine the risk of their alcohol problems;
$1.2 million for a Safe Streets research project led by Victoria Police into the triggers of street crime; and
A review of how maximum patron numbers in licensed venues are set.
“Victoria currently has the lowest prevalence of crime against the person in Australia and we need to ensure we act to ensure this remains the case. This is an enforcement issue, a preventative health issue and a treatment issue,” Mr Brumby said.
“Due to Victoria’s great bars and restaurants we have the best nightlife in the country but we need to get the balance right. The challenge is to preserve our famous 24-hour city as the safest in Australia while addressing the misuse of alcohol.”
The late entry ban has occurred after government requested that the Director of Liquor Licensing consider using her powers to implement a late entry ban and following consultation with Victoria Police the Director has advised that she will implement a three-month trial.
In deciding to implement a trial, the Director has drawn on her experience of successfully implementing late entry bans in Ballarat, Warrnambool and Bendigo. The trial will begin on the morning of June 3.
Chief Commissioner of Police Christine Nixon said the late night entry bans were aimed at reducing the amount of people ‘venue hopping’ late at night often after they had been kicked out of another venue.
“We know the majority of alcohol related violence occurs on the streets as people move from venue to venue not in the actual venues themselves,” Ms Nixon said.
“Late entry bans control the movement of people and allow police to target key times around 2am. This gives police a greater ability to manage people not in a venue late at night.”
Licensees who breach the lockout by allowing people into their venues after 2am will face fines of up to $6800. The Director of Liquor Licensing has advised exemptions from the lockout will only be granted to restaurants, the Crown Casino floor and licensees with full club licenses such as RSLs.
Only members and guests of members can enter Clubs. People who have been locked out of other venues cannot enter these venues as a substitute. These venues will be a focus of compliance and enforcement activities to ensure they are operating within the conditions of their license.
Mr Brumby thanked Ministers Hulls, Neville, Andrews, Cameron and Robinson for their work on the taskforce and the assistance given to them by expert advisory group to the Victoria alcohol action plan chaired by Chief Drug Strategy Officer Peter Allan.
Media contact: Alison Crosweller 0438 450 564 or Ben Ruse 0437 195 284 www.vic.gov.au
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