Miss Nicole Jensen

Full-strength grog faces axe in bid to curb violence | The Courier-Mail.

Well, well. Bligh and her government are looking to ban full-strength booze at major events across the state. I do hope this doesn’t pass. This will ruin the quality of a good time out for thousands of responsible Queenslanders (not that I believe at all that getting plastered is the means to have a good time at all).

The Courier-Mail reports that Queensland already has the toughest alcohol-related legislation in Australia. Maybe it is time for something else to change? NSW recently forced high-risk venues (determined by the number of reported assults per annum) to provide free food and water to patrons, but lock-outs were also brought back to 2am. I’m not sure about you, but I would rather give free food to my guests to keep them happy and enjoying my services at an event instead of removing all full-strength alcohol from my stock, even if a few hours had to be knocked off for new patrons. There must be other ways to solve social problems other than continuously banning things.

I do see a need to curb violence and drug-related incidents in Australia, but I hope that these new laws, should they come into effect, take into account the good behaviour displayed at the majority of events and venues across the state. One quarter of violence in Australia is related to alcohol; what will we blame the other three quarters on? Will televisions and cinemas be next? I’ve just done a “Aussies ban” search on Twitter… sponsorship from alcohol companies, bottled water, Uluru treks, a whole censorship debate rages on… then there’s the national changes to cigarette prices and packaging. It seems we have no imagination when it comes to solving society’s problems. India, for instance (and I love this!), is investigating doubling electricity in rural areas to increase the use of television; in a bid to slow overpopulation. Now that’s creative!

Drinking in Australia has long been part of our culture. From a cosy glass of merlot in front of a crackling fire in the Blue Mountains to a cool beer after a hard day’s work in Mt Isa. We have a long way to go before this is changed. There are a number of other factors that come into violence statistics, not just the crooners down at the local country town pub about to hit “an old mate” one for sleeping with the wrong young lady.

There is no denying that violence, disease and other ailments which gain the attention of governments all have a financial cost to the state. But these bans and tougher laws must stop when they cease to represent the community’s stance, and only that of politicians.

Brisbane’s biggest and hottest new nightclub, Cloudland, is being investigated for breach of liquor licencing laws after apparently opening more than a week before being granted full capabilities to sell alcohol.

March 18, the Brisbane Lions AFL season launch was held at the $10 million-plus venue, yet the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing did not give Cloudland a full liquor licence until just last Tuesday, only a day before the official opening of the club. Cloudland did reportedly have permission in some parts of the venue, having permission under the owners’ (the Bickle family) existing licence, but did now yet have full service allowances.

Cloudland is owned by the Bickle family, also owners of the Empire Hotel and numerous other Brisbane glamour-spots, and the opening of the venue was reportedly twenty months behind schedule.

The only comment from Cloudland on the matter is that “the Lions event was a private function, invite only and not open to the public” and the Brisbane Lions has refused to comment to media. 

Breaches of liquour licencing means a fine of $2500 for each offence.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has told the working class of Australia to “bogan it up at home” if they intend on causing problems for the city’s New Year’s Eve plans.

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