A petition that has support across the political spectrum is calling for pubs in Manly to close earlier to help clamp down on alcohol-related violence, said Manly MP Mike Baird who raised the recommendation yesterday in Parliament.
“On this issue the Manly community is united – we will not see a serious reduction in alcohol-related crime unless trading hours are addressed,” Mr Baird said.
“The petition was started by residents, Richard Hewitt and Tim Fiddes, and is backed by myself, the Mayor of Manly Jean Hay; Independent Councillor Peter Macdonald; Greens Councillor Cathy Griffin; and Labor Councillor Craig Whitting.
“This issue is above politics – it is about changing the culture that sees people spill out of pubs in the early hours causing harm to themselves and others.
“The petition supports pubs in Manly stopping the service of alcohol at 2am and closing at 2:30am, which is what Manly Council and Manly Police have been urging for some time.
“Back in 2008 there was a voluntary trial of a 2:30am close, which saw a marked reduction in alcohol-related assaults.
“The community is frustrated by token initiatives by the NSW Government that skirt around the issue of trading hours.
“Last week the Manly Safety Committee was told that the Manly Community Safety Partnership, which the Minister launched on the Corso last October, has fizzled.
“The Government is now asking Manly Council and Manly Police to adhere to actions that have already been in place for many years.
“While we are pleased the Transport Minister recently agreed to our request for the late-night shuttle bus to operate for another year – trading hours can’t be ignored.
“If you want to support the call for a 2:30am close of pubs in Manly please visit my office at 2 Wentworth Street in Manly or look out for the petition in the Manly CBD.”
Mr Baird said the Liberals/Nationals would also pilot ‘sobering-up centres’, strengthen existing ‘Move On Powers’ and introduce the new offence of ‘drunk and disorderly conduct’ to better support police and make individuals more responsible for their behaviour.
MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880
To sign the petition, please visit Mike's office at 2 Wentworth Street Manly
or look out for the petition in the Manly CBD
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Comments (19)
perplexed
Haven't you been in Manly this summer Mr Baird??? - Ask the Police - Crime is down significantly since the late night Transport situation was addressed (by the pubs being able to run a proper bus) and venues cease at 3am, and shortly the only venue not complying will change hands and come on board with the other hotels. How naive - you talk about the "Newcastle solution" but Manly hotels close earlier than Newcastle!!! Close at 2am and patrons will Ferry it into the city and not go out in Manly - great politics
Trading Hours of Pubs
I think the idea to stop serving alcohol in pubs at 2am and closing pubs at 2.30am is a good one.
It allows plenty of time for wholesome socialising but goes a wat to circumventing those who simply want to drink themselves into oblivion and then cause trouble to innocent victims. Too many deaths have occurred this way!
One wonders to how such people can then lead useful and fulfilling lives in daylight hours?
I think this law should be intoduced across NSW !
In support Melanie Matthewson
Manly after dark
I am absolutely convinced that stopping the service of alcohol will not only prevent alcohol related violence and accidents, but will also deter those types of people choosing Manly for the sole purpose of getting drunk out of their minds from coming here in the first place. How many restaurants etc must lose business on the back of Manly's dubious reputation after dark. As a long time resident of Manly, I choose to be in Manly for an evening as early as possible so I can get out of there as early as possible and not have to encounter the disgusting behaviour of the young people and travellers who don't seem to have any respect for property or others. Bring it on!
Tackle trading hours.
Hello Mike,
While this seems to be a repeat of a while ago, it is worth talking & doing something about it until results. As said before, I used to enjoy Manly in the evening but now, I would not go there after 10:00pm. The only opposition that you will read will be from the sellers of alcohol ! ! and their interest. Not from the reasonable consumers. Keep well, Albert.
Trading Hours
I cannot see why the hotels should be permitted to sell alcohol up until 2.00a.m. However I will sign your petition and hope this is the start of moving for even earlier closing times.
Lobbying on hotels
but what will Liberal Party factional heavyweight Michael Photios have to say on this matter! - He is now doing the bidding of the AHA it seems.
Late night trading
I am a lifetime local & have been involved in the industry for 10 years. Transport out of Manly is the real issue. There is also a lack of public amenities (toilets etc) in the precinct.
Closing hours
The problem of people binge drinking will not be solved by closing pubs earlier. People will just start earlier. By closing all pubs at a certain time you put everyone out on the streets at the same time. Public transport is non existenet and there are insufficient taxis to deal with demand. This is what causes the drunkeon and disorderly behaviour around the corso and surrounding streets, as people cannot get home. Added to this taxi swop overtime is at 3am by closing pubs half hour before this you are actually making the problem worse. If everything was open till 3.30am or 4am you would actually have a new shift of taxi drivers to take people home. Longer openning hours or staggering opening hours and not serving alcohol 1/2hour before closure would be more effective in solving the problem as then people would then drift off slowly. The current longer opening hours at the Steyne and Ivanhoe mean that when they do actually close there are very few people still at these hotels and less problems on the streets. Its much easier to get a taxi at 4am than at 2am.
Closing times
Mike, Good initiative and totally agree. We have to return Manly to the great and safe tourist place it was years ago. Police have had enough too and don't need to be wasting their time peeling drunks off the pavement. Also, we have to do something about the homeless drunks in the park in Belgrave Street. This is the gateway to Manly in many respects and not a great advertisement. All need help but many refuse to accept it so I know the problem is not easy but let's make a start. Would like to see you down at the Skiff's soon for breakfast with the Rotarians. We all think you are doing a great job for the Manly community. Regards, Stephen Russell
Trading hours
Great initiative, Mike. We wii come by & sign the petition.
trading hours
I will be happy to sign any petition that leads to an earlier closure of hotels in Manly. However, I strongly believe that 2am cease of serving and 2.30am closure is still too late. I believe you have set the bar too low. They should cease service at 12.30am and be closed by 1.00am. I hope the political donations that the liberal party recieves from the hotel lobby have not influenced you in taking such a weak stance. It certainly looks suspiciously like this is the case. If you truly represent the local population then you would take a stronger stance. Kind regards James McMaugh
Trading Hours...............
Yes Mike, I shall come in to sign your petition, it is far too dangerous in Manly after dark and add late night drinking you have a lethal cocktail. That is one cocktail I don`t want so well done!
Tackling trading hours
I endorse the recommendation that tradng hours of our hotels and also our other liquor outlets in Manly stop selling liquor ar 2am and then these premises close at 2.30am - especially on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays. The patrons then be given ready access to suitable transport to either bus terminals, railway stations or to ferry transport . This tranport be, in turn, adequately supervised by professional security personnel trained to cope with drunken behaviour. John
Trading hours
Sorry Mike completely disagree with you on this one. It's not about changing hours and it's all about changing culture. This is a great deal more than early closing. It's about reducing demand/ binge drinking, education of teenagers, changing pubs' image/ smaller more intimate venues, enforcing RSA, NO alcohol advertising allowed (especially at sports) to stop impressionable teenagers associating alcohol with sports stars etc. It is not a simple change but requires change across many areas. Changing hours will eithe have little effect of transfer the problem somewhere else. regards
TACKLE TRADING HOURS: COMMUNITY URGES
It would be good to be able to sign an on line petition. Many people are locked away with work commitments also running around at the weekends. I just want to thank you Mike for all your hard work, it's very much appreciated.
drinking hours
I support 2.30am closing hours. In fact I woulds ay 12.00 but maybe its because I am older. The RSL's are open they can go their afterwards if they will let them in. From their they can get their courtesy bus home. Funnily enough I read about Apostle Paul holding his christain meetings in the middle of the day when people slept mostly. There were more people on the streets in Epheus Middle East) at 1.00am than in the middle of the day. The world has not changed.
Pub closing hours
Some years a go I attended the ANZAC dawn service at Manly 4.30am.I could not believe the behaviour of drunks staggering arond the Corso.We then expect our police to have to clean up the mess created by too much alcohol served.Maybe the hotel owners could patrol the Corso in the early hours of the morning and breakup the fights and tend to the injured.
Earlier Closing - makes sense for all
Hi Mike,
We here in Newcastle have benefitted from earlier closing but as yet there is far more to go, 3.30am is still far too late.
Even my son has said that if pubs are closed by 2.00am then he would benefit to his health and sleep for the rest of the week and he is 20 years old and enjoys going out in the early hours. The crime and violence is worsened the later the alcohol is flowing and the Western World needs to moderate the alcohol consumption for everyone's benefit, when one is heavily drunk the rational thinking is not present and they keep drinking. Fully support it should be State wide 2.00am close, then perhaps would go out in the evening ratrher than the early hours of the morning
pubs in Manly stopping the service of al
Anything to stop the pain many families suffer from alcohol my wife and I will support. The drunks are only the beginning of the hurt that many others suffer. How many businesses have violence management as a vital part of their business plan. If a business is to run with the understanding that people will be injured and neighbours abused it would be held accountable in the courts as derelict in its duty of care. A business that needs the support of the police and emergency wards in hospitals would normally never open. Obviously the minimization of harm has to be an absolute priority. Reduce the pubs hours until normal business injury rate of zero can be achieved.
