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Secret study of Aust'n drinking habits revives call for "lockout laws"

Xinhua, August 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

A covert study of Australian drinking habits in pubs and bars has resulted in renewed calls for tougher restrictions on the sale of alcohol.

The study, undertaken by Melbourne's LaTrobe and Deakin Universities, found that the rate of intoxication in Melbourne venues grows dramatically every hour after midnight.

Undercover researchers observed patrons at 62 bars looking for signs of intoxication such as slurred speech, aggression, stumbling and bumping into people or furniture.

The study found that the time of night and the age of drinkers were the two biggest predictors of a commotion occurring.

Crowded venues and the number of male patrons in a venue were the other significant factors in predicting trouble.

Professor Peter Miller, the co-author of the study from Deakin University, said the study corroborated existing evidence supporting a change to liquor licensing laws.

"It quantified things like an 11 percent increase in intoxication for every hour after midnight,"Miller told News Limited on Monday.

"That sort of (data) gives us real insights into why restricted trading hours work."

Introduced in Sydney in February 2014, the licensing law changes, dubbed "lockout laws," included 1.30 a.m. lockouts for pubs and clubs, bans on liquor "shots" after midnight and"last drinks" for all venues at 3 a.m..

Miller said the new laws, which have been linked to a dramatic decrease of life-threatening alcohol-related injuries presented at Sydney hospitals since 2014, have been"hugely successful."

Marlene Kairouz, Victorian Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation, said that vigilance in ensuring current licensing laws would eliminate the need for lockout laws.

"Lockouts would be disastrous for the fabric of our city's social and cultural identity,"Kairouz said on Monday.

"We are getting on with making vibrant Melbourne a 24-hour city. We have ... inspectors on the beat making sure licensees are doing the right thing."

The study said that for every percentage point increase in the number of male patrons at a venue, intoxication levels went up by 5 percent and crowding resulted in a 39 percent increase in drunkenness. Endit