Qld: State's pubs put on notice

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2008
Qld: State's pubs put on notice

BRISBANE, Feb 14 AAP - The Queensland government has declared a crackdown on all pubs
and clubs that allow violence and serve alcohol to drunken patrons.

Premier Anna Bligh will meet with 19 indigenous mayors in Cairns tomorrow as part of
the government's push to tackle alcohol abuse.

But Treasurer Andrew Fraser today warned all operators of licensed premises they faced
stiff penalties, including the suspension of their liquor licences, if they failed to
meet their obligations.

"The Bligh government will crack down on any licensed premises that do not meet their
obligations for responsible service, no matter where they are," Mr Fraser said.

The warning came as one of Brisbane's most popular hotels, the Normanby Hotel in the
city's inner-west, was yesterday slapped with a breach notice after more than 50 incidents
in the past year involving violent behaviour among patrons and high levels of intoxication.

The newly refurbished hotel, popular with young drinkers on weekends, faces a cutback
in its trading hours, a suspension of its licence and large fines as a result of the notice.

The owners may also be forced to stop selling jugs of alcohol and using the hotel's
car park as a bar area.

Meanwhile, Mr Fraser today tabled draft legislation in parliament which sets out a
comprehensive overhaul of Queensland's Liquor Act.

The changes will affect late-night operating hours for licensed premises, wind back
early opening, and create a new licence for small, boutique bars.

AAP dmc/pjo/jl/bwl

KEYWORD: LIQUOR

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