EXTRA HOUR FOR BARS
Games trading reprieve for Broadbeach, Surfers
THE State Government will today announce that pubs, restaurants and cafes in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach will be able to serve alcohol an hour later during the Commonwealth Games.
In adopting the model used at the Glasgow Games in 2014, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it would “ensure the Gold Coast makes the maximum benefit from the Games”.
THE State Government will today announce that pubs, restaurants and cafes in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach will be able to serve alcohol an hour later during the Commonwealth Games.
After widespread debate about what to do with trading in the party precinct during the city’s biggest-ever event, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she will adopt the model used at the Glasgow Games in 2014 and permit traders to open 60 minutes after their normal liquor licence allows.
“The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will be the biggest event in our history,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. “This is a oncein-a-generation event. I asked (Attorney-General) Yvette D’Ath and (Tourism Minister) Kate Jones to discuss with stakeholders.
“Based on that feedback I have decided to make this change for the Games to ensure the Gold Coast makes the maximum benefit from the Games. We looked at Glasgow and have decided to increase liquor trading hours by an hour. It is a temporary measure for the Games only.
“My government approach to alcohol-fuelled violence, including ID scanning, remains in force.”
The extended hours will not affect ID scanning rules. For example, a pub that had a liquor licence until midnight, and therefore did not require ID scanning, would not have to implement scanning until 1am.
In addition, the Office of Liquor And Gaming Regulation commissioner will have the ability to issue a public safety notice to withdraw the authority for the one-hour liquor trading extension and extended trading permits to allow trading until 5am would still be available on a discretionary basis.
Ms Palaszczuk said she made the decision following representations to her from the Gold Coast.
Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president Tim Martin told the Bulletin last week he had been hopeful of a positive outcome after meeting with State Government representatives about Games trading hours and ID scanners.
Mr Martin, general manager of The Bedroom, Sin City and Hennessy Lounge Bar and Nightclub, also called for “pass-outs” for patrons already scanned into venues so they didn’t have to go through a rescanning process.
“We want to try and tackle the long lines (outside of clubs),” he told the Bulletin during the interview.
“With the influx of people it can only get longer.”