Newcastle residents welcome Liquor Board decision

This isn't local - but it's extremely relevant.

An unprecedented decision by the Liquor Administration Board on 14th March has imposed reduced trading hours and restrictions on high alcohol content drinks on 14 city hotels. The decision has profound implications not only for Newcastle, but for many similar communities throughout Australia confronted with the impact of youth binge drinking and the associated intolerable disruption to peaceful communities.

An appeal has been lodged, and the hearing will not take place until June or July. However, on 21st March a full bench of the NSW Licensing Court rejected the hotels' application for a stay order - so the restrictions are in force until the appeal is heard.

The decision has been described as a key turning point in the community's battle against the epidemic of binge drinking in its city. Over a period of 8 months the Board was presented with overwhelming evidence of the nature and impact of sustained high levels of intoxication and failure of industry self-regulation in the city.