Lockouts!

So Lockouts…..Have we all heard about them recently?

Yep! Me too, bit sick of hearing about all the measures that need to be taken for reducing alcohol fuelled violence. Where do people take personal responsibility? And if they don’t, then ban them from all of Perth’s night hot spots, maybe some time behind bars. No, lets punish everyone instead, says the government!

Sunday Times had an article about alcohol fuelled violence being on the rise in the Perth area. And what was the reason…Because the councils and governments have allowed so many new ‘small bar’ licenses in the last 12 months, over 50 in fact!!! And all the while they try to point the finger at everyone else when they are to blame for half the problem!

Some of Perth’s most successful Bar and Club owners have now banded together in a fight against the State Government. Do we really need this? They are trying to make their establishments look good in the wake of this new control, so will they start trying to hide any new problems so as to appear not part of it. Shouldn’t be long before a few damaged bodies start appearing behind restaurants and businesses after the bouncers drag them off; can’t be punished for it if it wasn’t your venue…or can you?

Brass Monkey was slapped with a lockout just last month and they have not even had any reported problems! So was it the location in Northbridge? Or was it that the local council man doesn’t like the owner? Or was it simply a random act for the government to prove that it is in control so you better get used to it!

And then which club do you blame when a fight breaks out on the street? Is it the one that locked people out and caused them to be there????

First there was ridding bars and clubs of glass and introducing plastic drinking vessels to avoid glassing. That was actually a great idea, much to the dismay of some who considered themselves upper class while drinking at the Deen or the Shed….hmmm. That alone is debatable!

Now we have lockouts. NOBODY really wants this, do they…I know I sure don’t. Finish work at midnight, go home for a shower and get ready, head out to meet my mates for a birthday celebration in Northbridge, to arrive at 1.15am and be told I’m not allowed in!!! And to top it off, I was the designated ride home, so will my friends experience the feat of attempting to get a taxi in the wee hours, or just drive home drunk because they can’t get one, perhaps get busted for DD, or even have an accident, as I lay asleep in my bed.

Let’s come up with a better solution.