GOLD Coast clubs and pubs may soon be counting patrons’ drinks to keep them sober, rather than risk fines of up to $56,000.Drinkers are expected to be sober in pubs now?
A radical new State Government plan will see breathalyser-wielding police testing drinkers at the bar to see just how drunk they are, with the results used to build a case against venues.That's right, pubs can be shut down if they don't correctly guess the amount of alcohol their customers have drunk.
And it appears the blood-alcohol limits for drivers might be the standard on which club drunks are assessed ...
“Allowing police to breathalyse drunken patrons will help them to build cases for prosecution for court,” said Ms D’Ath.
“For example, police consider a (blood-alcohol) reading of 0.15 to be highly intoxicated.”When driving, perhaps, but that's around 4 pints or less. Otherwise known as a light lunch in the Puddlecoteville Arms!
The plan to allow police to breathalyse patrons has been slammed by bar owners who say staff will have no way of knowing a person’s blood-alcohol level before they are served.Unless they also breathalyse customers before they serve them, of course. What fun evenings that will make, eh?
James Tweddell, owner of Broadbeach restaurant and nightclub East, said allowing police to randomly breath-test patrons was draconian and ridiculous.
“If someone is arrested and has committed a crime and police want to breathalyse him, I support that.
“But if someone wants to enjoy a night out, like a 40th, and the cops are going to walk in and breathalyse people at a venue, then that is ludicrous.”You'd think so wouldn't you? But incredibly, in the comments under the article, many Australians actually think this is a great idea! Good grief.
H/T Tim Andrews who I truly pity for having to live down there.
