Liquor Laws !

Back in February, 2014 the then New South Wales Premier, Barry O'Farrell took the axe to what had become a nightmare of drunkenness in King's Cross, Sydney's premier red light district.  The public were viewing an out of control scene night after night as this famous strip hosted an ever growing accumulation of what were being touted as " night clubs " and " girlie shows " masquerading as entertainment.

Kings Cross became infamous for what became known as the " Cowards punch " !  Drunken hoodlums launching a sudden attack on a complete stranger, and if that person fell and sustained a fractured skull, death was often the outcome.  It was pure mayhem when the crowds emptied out and often this developed into street brawls of epic proportions.

O'Farrell tamed the Cross with draconian liquor laws. It became illegal to serve drinks which exceeded 5% alcohol content after midnight, but the most effective were the " lock out laws ". Patrons could drink to 3 am, but after I-30 am once they left any premises they could not reenter it or any other.  The only option - was to go home !

That almost completely killed King's Cross.  Half these " grog joints "  closed down for lack of patronage and drinkers moved to the suburbs - where the new laws did not apply - but which lacked the concentration of competing venues and which were devoid of competing " action " to compel drinkers to move from place to place - and consume more alcohol.   At the same time, a new restriction forced bottle shops to close their doors at 10 pm.

We now have a much more orderly liquor scene and those liquor laws are up for review.  There is pressure from the liquor industry for them to be rolled back, and the owners of bottle shops want that 10 pm shutdown lifted.   All the indications are that the present premier, Mike Baird is digging in his toes - and there will be no change !

The key to what happened was the dispersal of night life to a much wider selection of venues rather than having it concentrated in just a few streets in a single suburb.   The crime factor in King's Cross dropped to near zero, and yet this was not increased in other individual suburbs to any significant degree.   Somehow that missing ingredient of side by side venues promising " action " had a taming effect on crowd behaviour.

It is doubtful if the 10 pm closure of bottle shops had any ill effect on those buying take home liquor, but it did remove the opportunity for late night revellers to purchase grog after the clubs and pubs closed - and " kick on " in parks or on beaches.  It also removes a tempting target for armed holdups which were a problem for late night petrol stations and liquor stores, usually lightly manned and therefore vulnerable late at night.

The public have adjusted to the new liquor laws.  Naturally the liquor industry would like longer hours because the more booze it can sell the more profit that rolls it's way, but it seems that we have achieved a reasonable compromise.
A long time ago a fly spray manufacturer used an advertising slogan to promote it's product.   Those wise words were  -  "  When you are on a good thing - stick to it " !    That could be very good advice for Mike Baird to think about !