Queensland Parliamentary Enquiry into Alcohol-Related Violence has finished and the final report contains 68 recommendations. One recommendation is to ban bottleshops from advertsing discounted liquor in Queensland.

It contravenes trade practices law to fix prices. However, research has shown that price is one of the effective means of addressing levels of liquor consumption.

A UK study (Purshouse R C 2010) said:

General price increases were effective for a reduction of consumption, health care costs, and health-related quality of life losses in all population sub-groups.

Remember dollar drinks, 2 for 1 offers and four hour happy hours? Prior to the 2005 amendments to the Liquor Act, enacting the Brisbane City Safety Action Plan, the media was full of these kinds of promotions. That?s when the Queensland State Government cleverly side-stepped the TPA problem by regulating advertising rather than price, with the result that advertising, at least for the on-premises branch of the industry, shifted focus to image ? entertainment and food offerings and so on. Despite initial reservations, licensees across the board were very quickly on side.

Consider the impact of this change on the perception of liquor as a product.

This strategy must be extended to capture the 70 to 80% of total liquor sales represented by off premises outlets. No-one can argue that continuing to permit advertising of $2 and $3 bottles of wine is consistent with changing cultural and societal attitudes toward liquor consumption.

Our treasurer recently commented along the lines of  “No-one goes to First Choice for the decor” but perhaps they should. And if not for the decor, then for the customer service, or the range, or the wine expertise, or the convenience and parking – not simply price.

The Queensland Parliamentary Enquiry into Alcohol-Related Violence has finished and the final report contains 68 recommendations. A number of recommendations relate to changes in approved trading hours, specifically a reduction in approved extended hours and changing the lockout from 3 am to 2 am. However, the recent publication of Government survey results supports the view held by most industry participants that there is no case for a general reduction in trading hours. The Courier Mail reported that of 10,000 survey respondents more than 80% opposed any reduction in trading hours, and an overwhelming 90% opposed an earlier lockout.

A common theme in the LJSC report is the absence of hard data about many aspects of the debate, and the equivocal results of research in others. Despite specifically acknowledging this in a trading hours context, the committee inexplicably went on to refer to ?the increased alcohol-related harm which accompanies longer hours?. There are a few things lacking in the discussion.

Firstly, the strength of the existing legislation ? there are comparatively few licences with the authority to trade until 5am (around 100 or so), and the number has declined over the last few years as a result of many factors, particularly heavier compliance burdens and licence fees.

Late trading approvals are also very difficult to achieve, yet easy to take away. Way back when post 3am trading became renewable six monthly (1994) the Honourable Bob Gibbs as the relevant Minister at the time said:

This action serves notice on all operators who trade past 3 a.m. that a line has been drawn after which trading is an absolute privilege and not a right only removable when definitive evidence can be substantiated against the particular premises. It can be expected that if in a locality it is established that the allowance of trading of all licensed premises after 3 a.m. causes additional problems in terms of street violence, disturbances or criminal activity, a general ceiling of 3 a.m. for all premises with extended hours permits will be imposed. The fact that all permits will come up for renewal on the same day should provide adequate warning to premises in several notable areas of the State that this Government is serious in controlling problems with liquor trading in the early hours of the morning.

So whilst fiddling with trading hours might be a politically appealing and expedient distraction it won?t address the core problems.

What will work?

A larger number of visible Police on the streets, and appropriate deterrent-level punishments for the tiny minority of people who come out at night and break the law. Ask anyone.

The Valley Liquor Accord, in association with Queensland Police and emergency services, is encouraging everyone who visits the Valley Entertainment Precinct to store the name and number of a family member or friend in their handsets to be contacted In Case Of Emergencies (ICE).

Including ICE in your mobile is an easy step that that may help you when you need it most – in times of accidents and emergencies.

Enter ICE – for In Case of Emergency – into your mobile’s address book and list the name and number of the person you want to be contacted in an emergency. You could also store your blood type and other relevant information under your ICE entry in some handsets that allow notes in the contacts section.

Ideally your ICE contact should know your basic medical information, such as blood type and allergies and be able to help emergency services make decisions if needed.

Having ICE in your mobile phone may make it quicker and easier for emergency services workers or passers by to get in contact with someone you want and who can help with vital information.

Many Australian emergency organisations have thrown their support behind the ICE campaign and the Valley Liquor Accord has now adopted the strategy also.

On 15 October 2009 the Queensland Parliament passed the Gambling and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2009.

The amendments to the Maching Gaming Act 1991 include the introduction of a mandatory training requirement for all persons carrying out gaming duties on licensed premises.

The Office of Liquor & Gaming Regualation has not announced the date on which this new provision will come into effect, but it is likely to be in early 2010.

From that date, anyone carrying out gaming duties must complete a course in the Provision of Responsible Gambling Services within three months of commencing employment. There is a transitional provision which exempts existing gaming employees from this provision until 1 July 2011.

On 15 October 2009 the Queensland Parliament passed the Gambling and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2009.

The amendments to the Maching Gaming Act 1991 include the introduction of a mandatory training requirement for all persons carrying out gaming duties on licensed premises.

The Office of Liquor & Gaming Regualation has not announced the date on which this new provision will come into effect, but it is likely to be in early 2010.

From that date, anyone carrying out gaming duties must complete a course in the Provision of Responsible Gambling Services within three months of commencing employment. There is a transitional provision which exempts existing gaming employees from this provision until 1 July 2011.