TREASURER Peter Gutwein says some booze sellers have been getting away with advertising risky drinking practices for far too long. He has now tabled long-awaited laws aimed at putting an end to outlandish happy hour promotions. Mr Gutwein said he had no intention of swinging the axe through sensible drinks specials. However, he said a better balance needed to be struck between attracting customers, enjoying alcohol and keeping patrons safe. ‘‘Advertising all-you-can-drink for a certain price or in certain time frames is not responsible,’’ Mr Gutwein said. ‘‘It’s those sorts of activities where people are advertising asking people to come in and fill themselves up.’’ Tasmania’s Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council has been an outspoken advocate for such changes. Tasmanian Hospitality Association general manager Steve Old said specials like $2 beers and skoling competitions needed to go. ‘‘It’s about stopping practices that get people drunk quickly, which obviously leads to more problems,’’ he said. ‘‘If a venue’s got to do irresponsible advertising to get people inside, they’ve got other serious issues they’ve got to look at.’’ Mr Gutwein sent a stern warning to those looking to drink elsewhere before hitting the town once the promotions were reined in. ‘‘My advice to those that want to get a skinful in their own homes is that under the bill, should you enter a premise and create trouble, licencees can protect their other patrons and you can be barred,’’ he said. The liquor bill allows licensees and police to ban troublemakers from venues for up to six months. Police will also be able to issue multi-venue or designated area barring orders in serious circumstances. ‘‘The message is that we want people to act responsibly and safely, enjoy other people’s company, and not behave like idiots,’’ Mr Gutwein said. Mr Old said it was about time such hard-line bans were introduced. ‘‘It allows operators and police the ability to deal with that very small minority that want to go out on the town and cause problems for people,’’ he said. Also under the changes, applicants for liquor permits will be subject to character tests in a bid to prevent outlaw motorcycle gangs from obtaining permits.
TREASURER Peter Gutwein says some booze sellers have been getting away with advertising risky drinking practices for far too long.
He has now tabled long-awaited laws aimed at putting an end to outlandish happy hour promotions.
Mr Gutwein said he had no intention of swinging the axe through sensible drinks specials.
However, he said a better balance needed to be struck between attracting customers, enjoying alcohol and keeping patrons safe.
‘‘Advertising all-you-can-drink for a certain price or in certain time frames is not responsible,’’ Mr Gutwein said.
‘‘It’s those sorts of activities where people are advertising asking people to come in and fill themselves up.’’
Tasmania’s Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council has been an outspoken advocate for such changes.
Tasmanian Hospitality Association general manager Steve Old said specials like $2 beers and skoling competitions needed to go.
‘‘It’s about stopping practices that get people drunk quickly, which obviously leads to more problems,’’ he said.
‘‘If a venue’s got to do irresponsible advertising to get people inside, they’ve got other serious issues they’ve got to look at.’’
Mr Gutwein sent a stern warning to those looking to drink elsewhere before hitting the town once the promotions were reined in.
‘‘My advice to those that want to get a skinful in their own homes is that under the bill, should you enter a premise and create trouble, licencees can protect their other patrons and you can be barred,’’ he said.
The liquor bill allows licensees and police to ban troublemakers from venues for up to six months.
Police will also be able to issue multi-venue or designated area barring orders in serious circumstances.
‘‘The message is that we want people to act responsibly and safely, enjoy other people’s company, and not behave like idiots,’’ Mr Gutwein said.
Mr Old said it was about time such hard-line bans were introduced.
‘‘It allows operators and police the ability to deal with that very small minority that want to go out on the town and cause problems for people,’’ he said.
Also under the changes, applicants for liquor permits will be subject to character tests in a bid to prevent outlaw motorcycle gangs from obtaining permits.
