Vic: Fines for festive revellers who refuse to leave pub

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2009
Vic: Fines for festive revellers who refuse to leave pub

MELBOURNE, Dec 9 AAP - People who misbehave in Melbourne's pubs and clubs during the
festive season will face on-the-spot $234 fines under new laws.

The No Excuses campaign which starts on Wednesday aims to tackle drunken violence in
the city in the lead-up to the busy Christmas/New Year season.

The campaign is one of several initiatives Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle spoke
about on Wednesday to tackle city safety.

"We've done work to make sure that we have one more weapon in our arsenal," he told reporters.

"That's the No Excuses fine, if you are asked by a licensee to leave a premises and
you refuse to comply, you will be hit with a $234 fine," he said.

Police would be called to issue a fine to anyone who refused to comply.

"Unfortunately there have been problems in that area, but this puts the responsibility
back on the patron," Mr Doyle said.

Another initiative includes re-opening a safe community village at St Pauls Cathedral
that will provide refreshments to late night revellers while they wait to catch a taxi
or Nightrider bus.

"We don't want to forsake our 24/7 laneway bar culture, we want this to be one of the
world's cities that's vibrant and alive, but we also want it to be safe."

The fines would involve bar staff contacting police if a patron refused to leave.

AAP gr/szp/gfr/maur

KEYWORD: BEHAVIOUR

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