Ban on breakfast beers and betting
BREAKFAST drinking and pokie-playing will be banned across Queensland under sweeping changes to the states liquor laws.
Premier Anna Bligh today announced a return to 10am to midnight trading across Queensland following a review of the liquor act.
Early morning trading was introduced to cater for shift workers in 1992 but Ms Bligh said the industry had drifted towards "open slather" with more than 1000 pubs and clubs now licensed to open early.
She said the greatest risk to public health and safety came when pubs and clubs traded between 3am and 10am.
"Its time to clamp down. It was never the intention to simply provide hundreds of places across the state where people could start drinking and gambling at breakfast time," she said.
"I dont believe the present situation reflects what our society demands. There is more than ample opportunity to have a drink and a flutter in the 14 hours of trading from 10am until midnight."
Ms Bligh said early opening permits would still be considered for special events such as Anzac Day and Melbourne Cup Day.
The changes to the law will be brought before state parliament when it next sits, in February.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser, whose department is responsible for administering the liquor act, said the law would also be changed to encourage boutique bars across the state.
Under the current legislation bars must serve food but Mr Fraser said the requirement would be removed to encourage a more eclectic mix of establishments.
Mr Fraser said "boutique" bars, which typically sat less than 60 people, would help add to the ambience of major cities and tourism hubs and reflect the populations more sophisticated tastes.
"They can fill a niche tailor-made to particular areas.
"The new boutique licences will see more and more eclectic establishments open, catering to a growing clientele and allowing the growth of live music and cultural venues across Queensland," he said.
Other changes to the liquor act, recommended by the review, include banning undesirable alcohol products which target minors and penalties for adults who recklessly supply alcohol to unsupervised minors.
The review also recommended improvements to industry staff training, a reintroduction of annual licensing fees to ensure the industrys financial commitment to safer drinking, and a new marketing campaign to address change in Queenslands drinking culture.
2007-12-06
