What a dog's breakfast our liquor laws have become ! To try and control unruly behaviour we have a lock-out time. After that, entry or re-entry to licensed premises is barred - and drinkers supposedly have no other option than to go home.
Now new laws are proposed to shut down any outlet offering food at 2 am. The intent is to curb those locked out drinkers wandering the mall and other places seeking a kebab stand to appease their hunger from causing trouble.
There seems to be only one fly in the ointment. Those already with a permit will be allowed to stay open - and the ban will only apply to new operators. Hardly a welcome to new business in this city - and hardly fair to all business people.
We have always had crazy liquor laws. Do you remember the days when the pubs were shut on a Sunday ? But the clubs were open for business ?
So a club member was free to consume as much alcohol as he or she wished - provided they did it on club premises, but if they were a responsible person and preferred to buy alcohol and indulge in the safety of their home - that was against the law !
The pubs used their muscle to stop bottle sales in clubs on a Sunday because they were not permitted to open - and therefore they claimed it was unfair competition - and the politicians went along with that insanity !
It would be interesting to hold a referendum when there eventually is a council election with a choice of closing all outlets selling liquor at 2 am.
After all, anyone who can't get enough grog under the belt by 2 am could be accused of not trying hard enough !
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