THE RANN GOVERNMENT WANTS TO SEND YOU TO BED EARLY!
Send your support now - your comment counts! JOIN US
The South Australian government wants to make changes to our liquor licensing laws
which will have a serious impact on the way we all enjoy our night out in Adelaide.
Some of these changes have already been tried interstate and in other parts
of the world and it has been shown that they don't work!
In fact cutting back trading hours for outlets selling liquor more often leads to negative consequences.
In Victoria the police union even questioned proposals for a 2am lockout aimed at reducing opening hours for hotels in that city's centre, calling instead for more police to boost foot patrols in the city.
Even former Consumer Affairs Minister in the Rann government, Jennifer Rankin, agreed that "any
lockout would impact not only on young ones enjoying a night out, but all age groups". How true.
So why has this government now changed its mind?
All of us in the CBD and the West End support whole heartedly a safer environment
for visitors to the precinct. But this safer environment won't be achieved by changes to liquor
laws and trading times. It is simple... we need more police in the area to protect and support South Australians enjoying a night out.
The people wanting to make changes to our licensing laws do not understand that
young people today often don't venture out until late in the evening.
To reduce opening hours of licensed premises flies in the face of this social norm.
The trouble is that many of the people wanting to make changes to the law are already in bed
by 9pm and don't understand this modern trend to go out late and stay out late.
South Australia will slip into the dark ages of prohibition and six o'clock closing if hotels are stripped
of their 24-hour trading licenses. It would also have a devastating effect on our tourism industry
...undermining all the efforts of our state to shake off its 'nanny' image.
So please join us, as united we can ensure that the Government hears what we have to say... after all,
we are the people and the Government is supposed to represent what
the people want - and not their own agendas!
Web page, www.fighttheearlynight.com