Australian booze problems, through Canadian eyes

CanWest News Services' story about drink-fuelled violence in Sydney is gruesome. It helps explain why the State of New South Wales is planning new harsh restrictions on pubs and bars

Each weekend, Australian cities like Sydney are littered with unconscious, vomiting and fighting young drunks. Binge drinking by young Australians has reached frightening levels, say police and hospital staff who struggle to stem the violence and are left to repair the wounds of victims.

Australia's most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), which includes the nation's biggest city Sydney, recorded 21,000 incidents of alcohol-related violence in the past year, with the rate of violent incidents rising 7 per cent annually.

The NSW state government has announced no more 24-hour liquor licenses will be issued and Sydney's local government is promoting small European-style wine bars to change drinking habits away from the barn-style pubs. The state government has also identified 50 pubs and clubs for tough new liquor rules. From December 1, these pubs and clubs will be forced to lock out patrons after 2 a.m., serve drinks in plastic glasses after midnight, restrict drinks bought after midnight, and close alcohol service 30 minutes before closing.

Read the whole item from Canada.com here