Organiser James Harding said the first New Year’s Eve event was a success and would look at expanding to a two-day event. 

“It’s all been a hit. Everyone is really happy with the stallholders, and they impressed,” he said. 

“We have lots of security and lots of St Johns first aid and we have stallholders monitoring RSAs, so we have all the best practices to insure there isn’t any trouble but occasionally you get some people misbehaving.”

Tasmania Police also urged people to celebrate New Year’s Eve responsibly. Acting Inspector Darren Latham said police had proactive patrols in the entertainment areas in Launceston, Hobart, Devonport and Burnie overnight. 

The increased presence was to make sure everyone celebrated New Year’s Eve in a safe environment, Acting Inspector Latham said, aiming to deter alcohol related incidents.

 “The risk of anti-social behaviour is higher when groups of people consume alcohol together and we’re urging everyone to drink responsibly,” Acting Inspector Latham said. 

“We want everyone to have a good time and encourage people not to over indulge and let their behaviour ruin the night for others.”

Launceston division Acting Inspector Dean McMahon said New Year’s Eve in Launceston was normally “pretty quiet”.

About 25 police officers were working in the North on New Year’s Eve, with numbers increased in “hotspot” areas like Bridport and St Helens. 

“We do have some issues every now and then and it’s mostly related to anti-social behaviour and over indulgence in alcohol,” he said.  

“We’re not the fun police, we want people to have a good time, but we don’t want people over indulging and wrecking it for everyone else.”  

Launceston resident Jenny Hubbard was attending BeerFest for the first time, and said she was “absolutely” enjoying herself.   

“It’s excellent, it’s been a great night,” she said.  

“It’s beautiful weather, great music, fabulous food.” 

Riverina Jerky stallholder Lisa Cohen said her business started in Tasmania, before she moved to Lockhart, in NSW, and then Albury. 

She will soon be releasing a jerky variety that uses Tasmanian pepperberries, seasoning their Yarra Valley beef. 

It will add to their range that is Australia’s most-awarded beef jerky, with about 35 medals in the past four years. 

“What we’re finding is it's actually hard to get the product back over here, because we’re not ‘Tasmanian-made,’” she said. 

“But what sets us apart is that we’re a whole-muscle jerky – we’re basically artisan: hand-crafted, hand-cut, hand-laid. It takes forever, but customers love it.” 

For Perth-based beer brand Outback Brewing Co, it was a bittersweet New Year’s Eve. 

After travelling from Western Australia for BeerFest, they had almost no product, due to a freighting mishap. 

“I sent a palette of eight kegs over, on the eighteenth of December; they landed in Tasmania on the 22nd,” said co-owner Adam Watts. 

“On the 23rd, they were sent to back to Melbourne. They didn’t tell us, I found out when I rang them saying ‘where’s our freight.’” 

“I was pretty ropable.” 

They were able to rustle up enough beer from a wholesaler to serve about 300 people with ginger beer, mango beer, cider, and limited amounts of their signature strawberry milkshake variety – far less than they had planned. 

However, they were remaining glass-half-full about the affair. 

“Hopefully we can sell out quickly, and we can knock-off and go to the VIP tent,” said co-owner Peter Watts. 

“We’re seeing the funny side to it.” 

Festival-goers remained happy when they sold out, thanks to the huge range of beer, wine and food on offer from the 18 registered stallholders. 

“Just to be happy, and enjoy life while we can” – Jenny Hubbard, from Launceston. 

“To not buy as many clothes” – Lindy, who did not wish to give her last name. 

“To start a family bible-reading challenge” – Georgette, Scott, Yvette and Sonya Ambrose, from Kingston. 

“The same as it is every year – to lose weight” – Helen Bartley, from Hadspen. 

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