So the first phase of Queensland’s new lockout laws are in effect and already venues, who were apprehensive to embrace the lockouts in the first place, are already reporting losses in revenue.
According to a post on TheShout.com. since the implementation of the laws, alcohol fuelled violence is also up, despite the increase in police presence.
Information gathered by Triple J’s Hack program, revealed that venues in Brisbane recorded a decline in business on the first Friday night of the laws.
According to data gathered, business dropped a staggering 17 per cent on Friday night compared with the same weekend last year. Business showed a 24 per cent decline from the previous Friday.
Saturday’s figures weren’t any better, in fact data from the largest venues in Fortitude Valley showed that business dropped 19 per cent since last year.
Emmanuel Bogiatzis, of the Heritage Exchange Hotel in Townsville, explained:
“Staff hours will be reduce by 20-30 per week and we are only one venue, so multiply this by 10 – equal to the late night traders in our strip – and the loss of wages alone for a community already doing it tough is enormous, possibly 250-300 hours,”
“The real concern is the 1am lockout, that comes in to play on the 1st February 2017, could be devastating.
“Hoping customers will come to town earlier is a big ask, to change people’s habits overnight is unrealistic. Even more difficult times are ahead.”
Read more at http://www.theshout.com.au/2016/07/06/article/Queensland-lockouts-begin-revenue-down-violence-up/NTRYTDUSLP.html
Although he agrees that banning rapid consumption drinks after 12am is a good idea, restrictions to trading hours for any business is bad, regardless of the size of the business.
The article went on to highlight reports from a volunteer organisation, NightWatch Patrols who operate in the entertainment precincts, stating that they attended to more incidents this weekend than they did the previous weekend despite the new lockout laws being in place, so one has to question whether the laws are going to be effective.
Chris Owens of NightWatch Patrols said there was potential for even higher numbers of incidents once police patrol numbers dropped back to regular levels.
“On Friday we were up by only two jobs and on Saturday we were up five or six incidents,” said Owens. “There were boosted police numbers as well, so the amount of incidents may change once the police aren’t out in force.”
Read more at http://www.theshout.com.au/2016/07/06/article/Queensland-lockouts-begin-revenue-down-violence-up/NTRYTDUSLP.html