Aussies get tough with rough drinking holes

The roughest clubs and pubs in Australia's New South Wales have been ordered to hand over CCTV footage of recent assaults on their premises, to disclose documents, notes and electronic files relating to violent incidents, and prove they have investigated and taken remedial action after violent incidents. The measures are part of a growing crack-down on Aussie boozers.

With serious recorded assault rates at some drinking holes exceeding one a week, the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) has decided to ramp up its compliance operations. The department has ordered 23 clubs and hotels to hand over CCTV footage, documents relating to violent incidents, trading information and details on actions taken to reduce assaults.

The premises were identified by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research as the most violent in the State last year. OLGR compliance director Albert Gardner said the venues had been given two weeks to provide the relevant information. "My office is committed to supporting safer communities by working with venues to achieve a significant reduction in the incidence and frequency of assaults in licensed premises," he said.

Those targeted include the venue that was ranked the most violent hotel in NSW last year.  Other venues targeted have all recorded 28 or more assaults in the last 12 months. One bar has attempted to pre-empt the crackdown by becoming the first pub in the State to voluntarily stop selling pre-packaged, pre-mixed drinks. The ban is a social experiment to establish whether there is a link between alcopops, violence and under-age and binge drinking, as research suggests.

Clubs and hotels on the list have been ordered to provide the department with CCTV footage recorded over the past 30 days. The department has demanded disclosure of all documents, notes and electronic files relating to violent incidents. Managers have also been ordered to prepare a report on actions taken to prevent violent behaviour. The list of demands also includes reports on investigations and remedial action taken by the pubs and clubs after a violent incident and instructions given to bar and security staff.

Read the full item from News.com.au here