Victoria, Australia's new tough booze regime unveiled

Australia's second most populous state, Victoria, has unveiled its new tough licencing regulations and supervision framework as concerns over binge boozing grows

The new regime includes a freeze on new city bars and clubs, higher licence fees and teenage liquor spies. Premier John Brumby has released details of the Aus$37 million package which includes a lockout system in which from June 3 drinkers will be banned from entering inner-city pubs, clubs and bars after 2am.

Brumby will force licence holders to take responsibility for drinkers, with measures including under-age agents testing whether alcohol is being sold illegally to youngsters. The plan recommends an overhaul of liquor licensing, including a review of fees and licences, a review of the number of people in high-risk venues and a new health care approach to alcoholics.

Mr Brumby, under pressure from a growing anti-booze, said he was alarmed at evidence showing that young Victorians were endangering their health and becoming violent during late night binges. "The growth in this problem is quite frightening," Mr Brumby said.

The measures, include:

• A 3-month trial of 2am late entry bans for inner-city pubs, clubs and bars. A BAN on new, late-night liquor licences in four inner-city councils.
• A new liquor licensing strike force to hit rogue bars and clubs that breach drinking laws.
• Trial use of teenage spies to catch publicans who sell alcohol to minors.
• New laws to modernise laws allowing the short-term involuntary detention of people with severe alcohol problems.
• A risk-based licensing system in which licensees would pay more to run a pub, bar or club if it was deemed to be a potential threat to the community.
•  A community awareness campaign to explain the risks of excessive alcohol consumption.
• An overhaul of the way the director of liquor licensing allows private surveyors to determine numbers at some clubs.

Read the rest of this item from the Melbourne Herald Sun here