Sydney's pubs and clubs will be forced to enact mandatory lockouts from 1:30am and cease serving alcohol at by 3am, following discussions made in cabinet yesterday. Bottle shops will also have to close their doors at 10pm. NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell announced the new laws today, the State Government's latest drastic attempts to curb alcohol- and drug-related violence.
Here are some of the angry reactions taking place on facebook right now:
"What a fucking idiot! We are free people being treated like retarded children! What next? 1984 is coming alive!"
"Yes and lets close all the venues the same time as taxis have change over. which means more people out on the streets."
"The problem is not necessarily with alcohol its with fuck wits, people with no morals or education."
"They tried that in Brisbane and it was an overwhelming disaster.. Just leaves a lot if drunk, pissed off people on the street which actually slightly increased violent behaviour."
The crackdown will target key areas of Sydney's "CBD" nightspots including Kings Cross, Oxford St, George St, The Sydney Entertainment Precinct and the many busy clubs and pubs that operate within these areas are likely to be heavily affected. Mr O'Farrell also announced mandatory minimum sentences of eight years in jail for fatal one-punch attacks involving alcohol and drugs.
Other measures in the package include:
- Intoxication will be removed as a mitigating factor in sentencing;
- Free buses leaving every 10 minutes from Kings Cross to the CBD on weekend nights;
- A freeze on liquor licences for new clubs and pubs
- Increased on the spot fines for anti-social behaviour
- Increase to 25 years' maximum sentence for the illegal supply and possession of steroids;
- A ‘‘road safety-style’’ social media campaign targeted at alcohol fuelled violence;
The new scheme comes off the back of a massive wave of media attention on alcohol fuelled vioence in Kings Cross and the Sydney CBD, most recently the 'king hit' attack on Sydney teenager Daniel Christie on NYE, who died a week ago.
Parliament will be brought back early next week to introduce the legislation required to implement the package.