Early openers gone: Bligh

Drinking alcohol and playing pokies before breakfast at the local are a thing of the past, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said today.

Almost 900 Queensland liquor outlets will now not open until after 10am each day under new laws coming into place from today – New Year’s Day.

“No hotel will serve alcohol from 7am. The earliest they can serve alcohol is 9am and this is only with specific Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing approval – otherwise the norm is now 10am,” she said.

The Premier has called on Queensland clubs, pubs and other licensed venues to ensure they are fully compliant with new rules for alcohol management.

“Recent changes to the Liquor Act will help build safer communities, with all licensed premises obligated to comply with new trading conditions.”

At present (Dec 2008) there are around 1200 venues licensed to operate before 10am. The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has approved around 300 venues to operate prior to 10am from January 1.

“Of these around 40 clubs have been granted approval to trade before 9am. These clubs have demonstrated a particular community demand – for example golf and bowls clubs with traditional early starts.

“The rest have been granted approval to trade from 9am due to special circumstances for example, liquor stores which are attached to shopping centres and have lease agreements requiring them to operate from 9am.

“As well no venue - even those with authority to trade before 10am - will be able to turn on the poker machines before 10am.”

“It was never intended for gambling or drinking at breakfast time. There remains more than ample time to have a drink or a flutter with 14 hours trading from 10am to midnight.

Also venues wishing to trade past midnight must hold elevated risk permits, which are being progressively introduced under a new permit system.

“Extended hours trading is a privilege, not a right and comes with serious responsibilities,’’ Ms Bligh said.

“Licensed premises may also need to apply to appoint additional ‘approved managers’ who will be available at all times to make sure the venue sticks to the conditions of their liquor licence.

“This person will need to have the know-how and experience to keep the premises safe – they will go through appropriate police checks, they will have experience in managing licensed premises, and they will have undertaken proper training in responsible management of licensed venues and responsible service of alcohol,’’ Ms Bligh said.

Funds generated from the introduction of a new licensing regime will go towards additional liquor licensing officers as well as the Bligh government’s Indigenous Alcohol Strategy.

Other reforms coming into effect on 1 January include:

·mandatory training in responsible service of alcohol for staff

·new powers for the Treasurer, as Liquor Licensing Minister, to ban liquor products that target young people and encourage them to drink excessively or to rapidly consume alcohol

·a requirement for a risk assessed management plan for new licences or venues seeking either extended trading hours or to vary their licence conditions

·a new Community Impact Statement to replace Public Interest Assessments, and which will require venues to show how activities on licensed premises will not adversely impact on their local communities.

·No poker machines will be permitted to operate before 10am.

Ms Bligh said the reforms were in line with the Government’s Q2 commitments – to make Queenslanders’ Australia’s healthiest people and to support safe and caring communities.

“These reforms follow our hard-hitting Safer Drinking Cultures campaign which was rolled out a few months ago,’’ she said.

“Released in two stages the campaign targets both adults supplying under-age children with alcohol and young people who drink too much.’’

As part of the Bligh government’s sweeping reforms to Queensland’s Liquor Act the campaign coincided with new “reckless supply’’ legislation which makes it illegal for parents to provide alcohol to minors without responsible supervision.

“The changes gave police the power to seize alcohol that has the potential to cause harm to under-age drinkers or that is being recklessly provided to minors.

“Licensees, staff, parents and family members alike need to remember that if they don’t comply with the new rules, they will be breaking the law, and they will be putting Queenslanders’ lives at risk.” Ms Bligh warned.

Licensees seeking further information should contact: liquor.reform@treasury.qld.gov.au or check out www.olgr.qld.gov.au.

Media contact: Treasurer’s Office – 3224 6361