Credentials Needed !

The term "Pub " is simply an abbreviation for "Public House " which is the official name for an establishment that serves liquor and usually welcome all members of the public.   In the distant past, its bars and public rooms were strictly segregated.   The main bar was "men only " although the beer was usually pulled by pretty barmaids and most establishments had what was called a "Ladies lounge " - with a discreet separate entrance.   A patron who imbibed too heavily was "asked to leave "!

After the end of the second world war a strange metamorphose happened in the Pub world.  Some began to engage bands to play music for patrons and deliver what they termed " entertainment ".   The era of the nightclub had come to Australia - and the price of drinks rose accordingly.

Today is a very different situation.  Along with liquor the entertainment scene is rife with drugs and patron misbehaviour has resulted in extreme control measures.  Controversial lockout laws are in place and most popular nightspots have introduced scanners. Entrances are staffed with " bouncers " and after midnight plastic drink containers replace glass because a beer glass became be a lethal weapon in the hands of an intoxicated patron.   A rash of " glassings " introduced this measure.

We are now seeing a new phenomenon where people are being denied entrance to popular pubs because they can not produce acceptable personal identification - and that means either a passport of a photo drivers license, and this is delivering some strange results.

An aged second world war veteran using a walking frame  was turned away from one venue because he was not carrying such a means of identification.   A party to celebrate a young man's twenty-first came to a standstill when his aged grandmother - who neither drove a car or had need for any sort of photo ID - was refused entry and turned away.

There is now a timing factor that causes dismay.   Usually the need for photo ID comes into play after 9 pm - when this device is turned on.   Because smoking is banned inside all enclosed premises it is common for smokers to nip outside to have a cigarette - and one man who did so was refused reentry because he was not carrying his ID.   The problem was that his wife was sitting at a table on which their meals had been served - hence the meals were put into " doggy bags ", his wife joined him outside the pub and their glorious night out ended as a fiasco.   They hailed a taxi and went home !

Unfortunately, deteriorating patron behaviour has made this ID scanning regime necessary.  Dance floor fights have become common and these scanners record both the name and picture of all who enter.  In the event of an altercation, the culprit can be quickly identified and a common restriction of that person from all entertainment centres is coming into play.  Serial offenders simply find that no venue will grant them entry.

At this stage scanners are only in use in popular, high volume pubs in recognised " entertainment "  districts but if troublemakers disperse to the suburbs it seems certain that these control measures will inevitably follow.    It seems that the custom of many people to " drop in " to the local Pub on the way home for a convivial cooling beer is about to change.     There will be no way past that inviting doorway - without photo ID !