Pubs are popular entertainment venues for Australian residents. Offering pokies, drinks and music, they are a popular destination for nights out. All pubs are required to stop serving alcohol at 1am, and the Napthine Government has recently decided to uphold this requirement for the next two years. While this is not always the case, alcohol tends to a trigger for violence.

There are some individuals that get aggressive while drunk, which can lead to bar fights. By cutting patrons off at 1am, the local government believes that it will cut back on alcohol-related violence. "The Coalition Government supports initiatives that encourage the responsible consumption of alcohol and minimise the risk of alcohol-related harm,'' says Edward O'Donohue, Liquor and Gaming Regulation Minister.

"People should have the right to go out at night in the inner city and surrounding suburbs, without fearing alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour.'' There are currently a few venues that have obtained late night licenses, and the government wants to prevent any more pub owners from doing so.

Lower-risk venues, however, such as cafes and membership clubs have not been barred from applying for late-night licenses. In some cases, venues are permitted to receive short-term late-night licenses. For example, many clubs and pubs across the country serve alcohol outside of the permitted hours during the World Cup in 2010. The first-ever White Night art festival also allowed for patrons to purchase alcohol after 1am.

The decision will also benefit problem gamblers who play pokies at local pubs, as alcohol can greatly impair judgement. When individuals become intoxicated, it is likely that they will lose control of their spending. By limiting how late patrons can purchase alcohol, the government can help to keep gambling spending under control in pubs.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.