Wollongong council has released details of a plan to control drinking and food hours in this city - and it seems to create more problems than it solves.
The idea is to separate pubs and clubs into two categories - those that presently exist, whose hours and conditions will be unchanged - and " new " premises which will be forced to adopt vastly changed trading conditions.
The existing clubs and pubs have a mix of trading hours that range from 4 am closing to unrestricted 24/7 operations. There is public disquiet at the conduct of patrons exiting these venues, resulting in fist fights, graffiti and damage to property.
According to the council plan all new alcohol outlets would face a 1 am closing time and food premises would close at midnight. New pubs and clubs could apply for an extension - which would mandate a 2-30 am lockout and a 4 am close. Food outlets could be granted an extension to a 2 am close.
The " Catch 22 " provision is that should any existing location wish to make improvement to their premises that would necessitate a Development Application to Council ( DA ) - this would result in that venue moving from " existing " to " new " in the application of these rules.
It doesn't take Einstein to figure that this imposition would immediately close off all thought of venue improvement. The drinking scene in this city would be stuck in a time warp - and it would do absolutely nothing to improve the rowdy behavior of patrons exiting the existing club and pub scene.
It looks like the new Council Administration is trying hard not to upset the owners of existing venues, given their clout and ability to guide public opinion - and at the same time give the voters the impression that they are moving to clean up the mess.
The question nobody seems to want to address is whether we need licensed premises dispensing alcohol 24/7 !
It would make a whole lot more sense to simply bring in a new closing time that would seem reasonable to most people.
The longer people drink - the drunker they get ! If they haven't had enough to drink by 1 am or possibly 2 am - then there is a case for requiring them to do the rest of their drinking in the safety of their own homes.
Council should bite the bullet - and bring in a " go home " policy and mandate a reasonable closing time for this regions clubs and pubs. There would be no need for legislation on food hours as a result.
Nobody stays open when the customers have gone home !
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