The 1am lockout, which has had positive results elsewhere, is a lockout, not a turnout. Most people simply stay in the venue and, rather than a mass exit, they leave more gradually over time. That’s probably part of why it works.
What they can’t do is get back in to buy more grog. Oh dear, bottom-line anxiety.
Here’s an idea. Why don’t we spend lots of money out of the public purse to protect the alcodollar? By the time we find out that didn’t work we’ll have come up with another idea to protect the alcodollar… at public expense.
Robin Harrison, Binna Burra
The alco-industry does make a good point, though, when they suggest that it will only cause more problems and potential violent incidences with the door-thugs.
One of the many problems of the lock-out policy: the venue will not permit entry even if you are perfectly sober (and a known non-drinker). Last Friday, this non-drinker slipped out of the Beach Hotel whilst someone was ‘blinded by the lights’ (playing on stage), in order to catch a the end of the Joe Kings playing at the Northern – without injuring the other party’s feelings. Made it back to the Beach Hotel before the band finished playing – thinking good timing. Unfortunately, it was just after midnight and the security person would not permit entry – even though the band was still playing. So when someone stepped off stage to discover that I was stranded outside the venue – thus had obviously slipped out in the middle of his set – not impressed – game over; and it was raining. How about a breath test for re-entry after midnight; rather than leaving the sober female out in the rain in more ways than one.