At the start of this year, new liquor licensing laws came into effect in Victoria to reduce alcohol-related violence. According to Responsible Alcohol Victoria, ‘high-risk’ venues will now need a licence to sell and supply alcohol after 1am. Licences could increase pub owners’ annual costs by $1500-$4500.
Silverton Hotel in Broken Hill, NSW (source: http://www.oztralia.tv)
The new laws are causing particular financial distress for smaller businesses, including country pubs. Merino Hotel and Heritage Cinema publican Ian Whalley told The Weekly Times he paid $2350 in licensing fees this year compared to a mere $900 last year.
As patrons battle drought, poor crops, and decreasing crop prices, and regional tourism continues to decline, publicans are struggling to keep their businesses afloat.
Country pubs blame their rowdier, bigger city cousins such as nightclubs and adult entertainment venues for the rise in alcohol-related attacks that brought about the new laws.
In small towns, bush pubs are seen as an integral part of the social fabric, and an invaluable way of fostering community.
“Rural people are well aware of rural population decline … as rural areas confront their futures, the role of the bush pub as community buildings will be of increasing importance,” Mr Whalley told The Weekly Times.
Mr Whalley has called on the Victorian Government to consider classifying pubs in rural towns as ‘community buildings’ in order to lower licensing fees for regional areas.
The Victorian Consumer Affairs Minister, Tony Robinson conceded that changes to the new laws may be needed to overcome new licencees’ concerns.
“We always knew when we introduced this new licensing system that there’d be some further refinements we could make,” Mr. Robinson told ABC News.
Do you think the new laws will decrease alcohol-related violence? Or will they just spell the end of the local pub? Let us know in the comments, or tweet us your thoughts @LiveTheDreamMag
Bush Pubs: A D(r)ying Breed
At the start of this year, new liquor licensing laws came into effect in Victoria to reduce alcohol-related violence. According to Responsible Alcohol Victoria, ‘high-risk’ venues will now need a licence to sell and supply alcohol after 1am. Licences could increase pub owners’ annual costs by $1500-$4500.
Silverton Hotel in Broken Hill, NSW (source: http://www.oztralia.tv)
The new laws are causing particular financial distress for smaller businesses, including country pubs. Merino Hotel and Heritage Cinema publican Ian Whalley told The Weekly Times he paid $2350 in licensing fees this year compared to a mere $900 last year.
As patrons battle drought, poor crops, and decreasing crop prices, and regional tourism continues to decline, publicans are struggling to keep their businesses afloat.
Country pubs blame their rowdier, bigger city cousins such as nightclubs and adult entertainment venues for the rise in alcohol-related attacks that brought about the new laws.
However, the Victorian Consumer Affairs Department found that 11 out of the 22 most violent alcohol venues were in regional areas.
In small towns, bush pubs are seen as an integral part of the social fabric, and an invaluable way of fostering community.
“Rural people are well aware of rural population decline … as rural areas confront their futures, the role of the bush pub as community buildings will be of increasing importance,” Mr Whalley told The Weekly Times.
Mr Whalley has called on the Victorian Government to consider classifying pubs in rural towns as ‘community buildings’ in order to lower licensing fees for regional areas.
The Victorian Consumer Affairs Minister, Tony Robinson conceded that changes to the new laws may be needed to overcome new licencees’ concerns.
“We always knew when we introduced this new licensing system that there’d be some further refinements we could make,” Mr. Robinson told ABC News.
Do you think the new laws will decrease alcohol-related violence? Or will they just spell the end of the local pub? Let us know in the comments, or tweet us your thoughts @LiveTheDreamMag