Suck it up or drink alone

Di Stanley | 4th February 2010

AN Emerald man has been served the ultimate last drinks order – a lifetime ban from his favourite watering hole.

And if he’s thinking about bending an elbow elsewhere in town, the sobering reality is he’s barred from every pub and club in the Emerald division for three months.

The 38-year-old is the first patron to be banned under the Emerald Liquor Accord, which came into effect on December 8.

The man’s fate was decided at Tuesday’s meeting of ELA members, who reviewed and voted on a report into an incident on Boxing Day.

Emerald officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Graeme Reeves said the enforcement action was a clear sign the accord meant business.

“The incident which occurred constituted violent behaviour in the hotel toward patrons and violent and verbally abusive behaviour to police at the licensed premises,” said Snr Sgt Reeves.

“Accord members are trying to curb any violent or anti-social behaviour, and this is just the first instance of our resolve not to tolerate such behaviour.

“There were no other lifetime bans imposed by licensed premises, but a number of people were discussed that had received three- or six-month bans from different individual establishments.”

The first man banned does have the right to appeal the ban by pleading his case before the ELA members.

Emerald police served him with a letter enforcing the terms of the ban under Section 165 of the Liquor Licensing Act.

Any person who flouts an ELA-imposed ban and is found inside licensed premises could have the length of their ban extended or face police action.

Snr Sgt Reeves said the newfound spirit of co-operation between the accord members was proving to be the difference to controlling any knock-on effects from bad behaviour spreading from one pub or club to another.

A clearly-defined responsible alcohol management plan is now in place, he added.

“For one example, there were six patrons who played up at one establishment and were asked to leave recently,” said Snr Sgt Reeves.

“On leaving, a telephone network was put into place where all the establishments rang around and as a result, when these gentlemen attended the next premises they were refused admittance and we prevented any further altercations.

“Play up and people will find they cannot get a drink in town – it’s as simple as that.

“If you wish to go out and have a drink, by all means do so, but realise it’s no longer the case if you play up in one pub you can no longer just walk down the road to the next one.

“If you play up and the word gets out, you won’t get entry into the other pubs.

“And if you play up badly enough, you won’t be drinking anywhere in town.”

The Emerald Maraboon Tavern, Mayfair Tavern, bowls and golf clubs, the Emerald Hotel, Epic Sports Club, Star Hotel, the Comet Hotel, Queensland Police Service and the Rockhampton Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation are all accord signatories.

Snr Sgt Reeves said ELA promotional material to clearly identify members’ premises was on order.

The Central Highlands Regional Council has given its endorsement to the ELA, with councillor Peter Haylock appointed as the CHRC representative to future meetings.