Queensland's Lockout Laws to Be Scrapped

Bottle shops aren't so lucky.
Sarah Ward
January 24, 2017

Sometimes, common sense finds a way. After an interim report demonstrated that Queensland's new liquor laws have had little effect on alcohol-related violence, the State Government has decided not to forge ahead with the second part of their lockouts plan. Folks, say goodbye to concept of 1am curfews.

The earlier cutoff was scheduled to apply on February 1, stopping patrons from re-entering pubs and bars a full two hours before current restrictions. Understandably, the idea that forcing people out onto the streets much earlier than they would like was going to stamp out booze-fuelled anti-social behaviour has been fiercely contested. Just as unsurprisingly, heated debate has also raged regarding the impact the curfews would have on Brisbane's nightlife scene.

Instead of lockouts, venues in the state's 15 entertainment precincts will have to trial ID scanners to record and store the details of all patrons entering their premises from July 1, 2017. In order to trade past midnight and serve drinks until 3am, nightclubs and other watering holes in the designated area will have to comply — and capture the IDs of every customer, regardless of the time of evening they stop by.

Changes will also be made to one-off permits that allow establishments to keep filling up beverages past the cutoff time. The number will be reduced from 12 to 6, with no more than one per month allowed to be issued — and, even then, only for special events.

Don't go thinking that you can stretch out your late-night fun as long as you want just yet, though. The existing rules, which came into effect in July 2016, remain in force. That means that last drinks will be served at 2am at venues outside of the approved precincts, and shots will be banned after midnight, no matter what you're consuming. And, if you're knocking back a few beverages at home, grabbing your supplies before 10pm is still a necessity because any new bottle-os won't be able to trade any later.

Via ABC News. Image: The Flying Cock.

Published on January 24, 2017 by Sarah Ward
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