Get Involved: Last Drinks Campaign

The Police Association of NSW, Australian Medical Association (NSW), NSW Nurses’ Association and the Health Service Union (HSU) launched the Last Drinks campaign in Sydney today.

Sign the petition to Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell.

Ambulance officers, nurses, doctors and police are sick of dealing with the effects of intoxicated patrons of licensed premises late at night and early in the morning. They are abused, intimidated, threatened, assaulted and injured more often than not because of alcohol-fuelled violence.

They have joined forces to encourage tighter control of licensing laws in hotels, pubs and clubs and help reduce the incidence of alcohol-related violence and crime on our streets.

The coalition released a report today, examining the need for tighter controls implemented in Newcastle to be adopted statewide. Following the trial of tougher licensing laws in Newcastle, assaults after dark fell by 29 per cent.

Doctors, nurses, ambulance officers and police are calling for action and for similar measures to be rolled out statewide. They want the State Government to introduce alcohol trading restrictions such as lockouts and reduced trading hours, similar to those already in place in Newcastle, state-wide to help put an end to innocent workers and members of the community becoming the victims of alcohol-related abuse.

The measures they want introduced are:

1. Extend the trial of reduced opening hours across the state for a period of twelve months.
2. Impose a lockout from 1am for all hotels across the state (unless a current earlier lockout has already been imposed).
3. Develop a model management plan based on the Newcastle trial to be adopted by all licensed venues.
4. Prohibit the sale of shots, mixed drinks with more than 30mls of alcohol and ready mixed drinks stronger than five per cent alcohol by volume after 10.00pm.
5. Engage BOCSAR to evaluate the impact of these measures on violent crime.

More information:

• Website: www.keepourcops.org.au
• Coalition's media release
• Coalition's full report

Related media:

• Closing time called on booze violence, Daily Telegraph March 30 2010
• Alcohol excess a hangover for all, Daily Telegraph March 30 2010
• Tough new limits on booze sales: unions, Sydney Morning Herald March 30 2010
• Kristina Keneally won't back the emergency service 'wowsers', Daily Telegraph March 31 2010
• Who are you calling a wowser Kristina, The Punch