Fears over extended Sunshine Coast trading hours
Mon 29 June 2009
Matt Mullens, Journalism
There are fears a controversial plan to extend the trading hours of a dozen Sunshine Coast drinking venues will lead to an increase in violence and alcohol-related crime.
The Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) applied to the Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing to allow its Sunshine Coast venues to stay open until 3am.
Liberal National Party police spokesman Vaughan Johnson said extended drinking hours would overstretch police already at their limit in dealing with alcohol-fuelled street violence.
"The last thing they need is more pubs open all hours with drunks falling out onto the street and causing problems," Mr Johnson said.
"Our police have enough to worry about without having to deal with an explosion in suburban drunkenness in the early hours of the morning.”
Queensland Network of Drug Agencies executive director Dennis Young said longer trading hours were likely to make the Sunshine Coast more dangerous for police, patrons, staff and the general community.
“There is certainly a correlation between the hours that a licensed premises is open, the amount of alcohol consumed and harm to the immediate community,” Dr Young said.
“Whether that is in street offences or property crimes…the longer they are open, the greater the risk.”
Dr Young also said any move by the state government to extend trading hours would undermine its recent campaign to encourage the responsible use of alcohol.
“At a time when the government is putting a lot of effort into attempting to reduce the harm associated with binge drinking and related issues, it seems strange that they are considering extending the trading hours for quite a large number of hotels in the south-east corner of Queensland,” Dr Young said.
Sunshine Coast Regional Council member Tim Dwyer said the violent mind-set of some patrons on the Sunshine Coast meant the potential for an increase in crime was worrying.
“I do believe with the attitude of some people that are using late night venues any extension to the hours wouldn’t be a positive move,” Cr Dwyer said.
Cr Dwyer was also concerned about the impact extended drinking hours would have on strained Sunshine Coast police.
“They reckon they’re already under the pump,” Cr Dwyer said.
“And if they’re already under the pump, I couldn’t understand why any license would be extended.”
Sunshine Coast radio personality Caroline Hutchinson campaigned strongly against alcohol-related violence while running as an independent for the federal seat of Fisher in the 2007 election.
Ms Hutchinson said the current proposal was part of a “lifelong battle” between commercial and public interest.
“I certainly don’t want to go on the record as saying that I think the publicans are the root of all evil,” Ms Hutchinson said.
“I think that this is a commercial interest for them.
“But at the same time the public has every right to say, ‘We do not believe that our community will be better served’.
“It’s up to us to keep fighting the fight.”
The ALH was contacted several times for comment but did not respond.
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