The ACT government will consider further crack downs on the trading hours of pubs and clubs, outlet density and licence fees, as a new report reveals a rise in the number of assaults in Canberra's licensed premises.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The review of ACT liquor laws found a peak in the number of assaults in the city's CBD between midnight and 6am.
The new laws have also failed to stop a culture of so-called 'preloading' of alcohol by young people before they leave home.
Prepared by consultants ACIL Allen, the review considered data from the first two years of new laws introduced in December 2010.
Overall, alcohol-related assaults decreased by about 11 per cent and alcohol related offences other than drink driving were down by 21 per cent.
Drink-driving offences fell by 7 per cent during the two-years.
Its authors said some of the findings should be considered carefully due to data sets.
Showing alcohol-related incidents increased as a proportion of all ambulance call-outs, the report also said alcohol-related attendances at hospitals increased among people under 18 years of age.
Authorities face "acute problems" in the city between 3am and 6am, the report said.
ACT Health emergency department data showed there had been an increase in hospital presentations for acute alcohol intoxication since 2010.
Finding that preloading of alcohol made it difficult for laws to be effective in reducing anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related violence, the report forecast possible changes to opening hours of venues and the density of venues allowed.
Compliance with existing laws and best practice management of venues could be considered when liquor licensing fees are decided and new restrictions on alcohol promotion could be introduced.
ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said the report showed encouraging results, but there was more work to be done to increase public safety.
“We do see some small increase in the number of assaults in the city center, and we now need to focus on the recommendations of this review which focus in particular on trading hours, outlet density, licensing and promotion of particular drinking activities," he said.
Mr Corbell said legislation closing loopholes allowing for supply of alcohol to minors could be expected this year, bringing the ACT in line with other jurisdictions.
He said issues related to preloading might be solved through licensing fees for off-license outlets and forecast better data collection measures.
In a statement, Australian Hotels Association ACT general manager Brad Watts said the economic impacts of licensing laws had to be considered.
“Larger licensed venues have been forced to pay considerably more than smaller venues in the ACT for liquor licenses and this has impacted on trade and turn-over by up to 50 per cent in some venues due to greater cost burdens," he said.
“Canberra’s licensed hospitality industry – which remains under intense pressure from the large increase in licence fees and growing costs – is continuing working with authorities to reduce incidents."
ClubsACT deputy chief executive Gwyn Rees said there was no need for wholesale change to current laws.
“Outlet density has merit and is worth discussion however calls for lockouts and earlier closing times in ACT is not supported by the evidence available and particularly whilst the collection of data needs improvement," he said.
"The vast majority of clubs operate outside of the CBD and have strict sign in rules associated with membership and are very different from a nightclub at 4am."
