NSW: Lack of enforcement leads to more drunken assaults: Stoner

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2008
NSW: Lack of enforcement leads to more drunken assaults: Stoner

SYDNEY, April 24 AAP - Lack of enforcement by liquor licensing authorities and police
has helped fuel a rise in drunken assaults across NSW, the state opposition says.

Acting opposition leader Andrew Stoner says moves to add a dedicated police squad and
extra compliance officers will only "scratch the surface" of the problem.

The government has announced that 25 new inspectors will be charged with monitoring
alcohol-related trouble spots.

"These liquor inspectors will be deployed to hot spots across NSW to carry out covert
and over operations in and around licensed venues," NSW Gaming and Racing Minister Graham
West said this morning.

But Mr Stoner said the government's response was inadequate.

"Yesterday we heard about an additional 30 police, today we hear about 25 new inspectors
with the Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing (OLGR)," Mr Stoner told reporters in Sydney
today.

"These resources are barely going to scratch the surface of a problem which has more
than doubled over the last ten years."

An auditor-general's report released yesterday showed the number of alcohol-related
assaults had increased from 10,305 in 1997-98 to 20,475 in 2006-07.

Mr Stoner said the report had stung the Iemma government into action after years of
ignoring the problem, but things would not change unless more patrols were conducted during
the problem hours between 11pm and 3am.

"They haven't been there, and that's why we've seen this problem occur," he said.

"At the end of the day it gets down to enforceability."

Mr Stoner said he supported OLGR moves to target problem drinking by placing curfews
on pubs in trouble spots.

Drunks will be banned from hotels for causing trouble, Mr West announced today.

"Troublesome patrons who refuse to leave a licensed venue, or attempt to re-enter or
remain in the vicinity after being ejected, will face on-the-spot fines of $550 for each
offence," he said.

Mr Stoner said measures were already in place for dealing with intoxicated customers.

"Already, pubs and clubs are not supposed to be serving drunks," he said. "Already
they have the power to ban the drunks from their establishment."

The 25 extra OLGR officers, who ensure compliance with laws surrounding the responsible
serving of alcohol, will be based at Sydney (18), Newcastle (5), Dubbo (1) and Wagga Wagga
(1).

Mr West said they could also be sent into other regional areas.

"These inspectors will be instrumental in identifying areas where the operation of
licensed venues is causing an unacceptable impact on the local community," he said in
a statement today.

AAP dr/wjf/jl/bwl

KEYWORD: ALCOHOL

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