Open all hours – at what cost?

For late-shift workers and vigilant party-goers, the thought of having a place to knock back a drink or three in the steely pre-dawn hours can be a comforting one. While there have been countless debates over the culture of all-night boozing, experts and inner-city residents are claiming that the issue is far graver than a matter of taste.

Earlier this year, a report released by the NSW Bureau of Crime and Statistics (BOCSAR) revealed that violent crimes have climbed almost 50 per cent in the past decade. The alarming trend is believed to be fuelled by alcohol-related assaults involving young men aged between 18 and 24.

“I’ve really had my eyes opened since taking over this pub,” licensee and manager of the Somerset Hotel Geoff Chadwick said. The hotel has a licence enabling it to stay open until 1am yet management chooses to shut at 9pm in order to avoid the drunken and disorderly crowds.

“If I had the right type of clientele I would open later but it’s just not feasible in this area. Licensees are always on the lookout for someone who is a potential threat,” Mr Chadwick said.

Director of the Bureau, Don Weatherburn, said the rising number of late-trading pubs is a key factor behind the violence caused by excessive drinking. There are currently 600 venues around the country issued with 24-hour liquor licences, with 444 of those located in NSW. 

“Late-trading premises are more likely to have problems with assaults because people who go there are far more likely to become intoxicated,” Dr Weatherburn said.

“Basically, no matter how committed you are to the responsible service of alcohol, if your pub is open for 24 hours and someone is entitled to sit in that pub drinking for 18 hours, virtually no matter how slowly they drink, they’re going to end up drunk.”

At the nearby Railz Hotel, management admits it is a constant challenge to ensure a responsible level of service. “It is often very hard to pick those who are drunk and people who just can’t speak very well,” Assistant Manager Simon Keeble said. “We are very vigilant. Unfortunately trouble often occurs when a sober person buys take-away alcohol for friends who are drunk.”

The Herald was told that Railz Hotel has attempted to secure an extended licence but was refused on the grounds that it would be taking advantage of the Aboriginal community who are often viewed as problem drinkers.

According to Dr Weatherburn, there is simply no magic formula when it comes to determining how many late-trading licences should be granted in an area. 

“There’s no set point at which it all becomes intolerable,” he said, “But clearly the more licensed premises you have, the more risk of trouble you’ve got. So Councils need to consider how many licensed premises they’ve already got when they’re deciding whether to grant a new licence or extend the licence to someone who’s already there.”

Last month, the State Government’s chief advisor on alcohol, Professor Ian Webster, called for a ban on 24-hour licensed pubs. Professor Webster said in a public forum that where there is a concentration of hotels and pubs operating for extended hours, there is a higher amount of injuries – causing hospital emergency departments to become “crowded-out.”

An earlier study by the BOCSAR has found that a small proportion of hotels accounted for almost 60 per cent of all the assaults on hotel premises in Inner Sydney, with these assault ‘hot spots’ more likely to be premises which have extended or 24-hour trading.

Despite concerns and recommendations, late-trading premises have continued to flourish in Sydney’s entertainment hub. Only two months ago, a court has given permission to a new nightclub in Taylor Square’s Kinselas Hotel to stay open for 24 hours. The nightclub has agreed to trade until 3am to abide with council conditions and will remain on a 12-month trial ahead of lodging its application for a permanent licence.

What key players think about 24-hour licensing:

“Police normally oppose 24-hour licences. They tend to cause all sorts of trouble.”

- Mark Walton, Superintendent of Redfern Police

“A responsible licensee doesn’t want to attract any negative attention to their pub. It’s also important not to annoy the neighbours or create repercussions for yourself with the Licensing Board, Police or Community Groups.”

- Paul Grinham, licensee of Tudor Hall, Redfern

“If I had the right type of clientele I would open later but it’s just not feasible in this area.”

- Geoff Chadwick, licensee and manager of Somerset Hotel, Redfern

Source: South Sydney Herald June 2007 www.southsydneyherald.com.au/