KEEN KICKS OFF

Plans to bring in stiff new drinking laws should have locals spraying their beers

The Attorney-General’s signalled plan to crack down on liquor licensing is an unfortunate one-size-doesn’t-fit-all solution. Plans are afoot to bring the existing 3am lockout, which stops patrons entering new premises after that time, forward to 1am. No one will be able to serve shots or what’s deemed a ‘high-alcohol’ drink after midnight. There is also a plan to enable police to target bar patrons with breathalysers to ensure host responsibility. It’s all aimed at targeting booze-related crime and violence across the State which is all well and good. But you have to sympathise with Surfers Paradise bar owners who are choking on their vodka and soda waters. Part of the charm of Surfers, like it or not, is its humming nightlife — as enjoyed by lots of visitors like these Sydney girls (below) on a birthday night out (shock! horror!) post-1am last year. That humming nightlife is a key ingredient to the Surfers economy and all its dining, activity and accomodation options. That’s why it’s not just the bar owners up in arms but Surfers Paradise Alliance president Mike Winlaw who is urging authorities to consider the wider economic impact before pressing ahead. A study commissioned by the Alliance in 2012 concluded Surfers’ night economy was worth a huge $3.4 billion. A key stimulator for all the other businesses was the clubs and bars between 9pm and 6am. The key to solving liquor problems isn’t new draconian rules that take us back to 2004. How about proper enforcement of existing rules that require bars to be responsible hosts plus a smarter system for taxi allocation when everyone spills onto the street at the same time?