No entry for drunks into pubs or clubs

New “Leave the Vicinity” laws, which will come into force in about a fortnight, are designed to place the onus on drinkers to take responsibility for their actions when they’ve consumed too much alcohol and still try to get into licensed premises.

Orange licensee Tony McClure of the Royal Hotel said he welcomes the changes.

He said they will be an important tool for licencees who are coming under increasing pressure.

“When you refuse entry or tell someone they can’t have alcohol, they don’t take it well and they become argumentative,” he said.

Last week local licensees were taken through the laws and its implications by Orange’s licensing officer Senior Constable Michael Wheelhouse.

Mr McClure said he still has concerns people will push the boundaries with any new laws.

He cited the case of tax increases on pre-mixed drinks, saying people will always find an alternative.

“Even down to the practice of kids going into the stores and buying their own home brew kits - it’s happening,” he said.

Licensee of the Canobolas Hotel, Phil Tudor said the laws will help security guards who are often subject of verbal abuse when people are refused entry to a hotel.

“This is great news,” he said.

“In the past we’ve had no powers and when the police come along they have limited powers too unless someone swears at them, for example,” he said.

“This legislation will put more responsibility onto the person trying to get in,” he said.

Mr McClure said licensees are continuing to have to deal with several issues about laws and drinking in licensed premises.

“There is one line of thinking that if you drive drinkers away from licensed premises and they do a lot more drinking.

“Then you have the growing problem of domestic violence at home caused by alcohol.”

He said the issues surrounding the consumption of alcohol and policing it were complex.