POLICE and Kingston Council have downplayed claims that “happy hours” in hotels and other licensed premises in Kingston will be banned.
They say Kingston’s first Liquor Accord does not call for the banning of happy hours – and nor are relevant authorities seeking to have them banned.
“At no stage will police ban happy hours but we do call on licensees to manage them appropriately to curb overzealous drinking,” Superintendent Bruce Wemyss, of Kingston police, said. “Also, we want the happy hour to run for just an hour, and not four or five hours, when things can get out of hand.”
Kingston mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill has also downplayed any significant changes to the happy hour provisions in the Accord.
“I don’t know where that came from,” he said, referring to reports the practice had been outlawed.
The Liquor Accord, which sets out a code of behaviour for 18 licensed premises in Kingston – including hotels, golf clubs and cafes – aims to voluntarily impose uniform standards of behaviour and conduct on signatories.
It encourages and promotes best practice and high standards in and around licensed premises so as to contribute to patron, staff and community safety.
Cr Gledhill said the Accord was designed “to bring venues along with us, to make them family-friendly places where people are happy to take their families and enjoy their stay”.
“We can’t be seen to be heavy handed,” he said. “We can’t force licensed premises to accept certain rules, but we can encourage and lead and, hopefully, get all participants working together collaboratively.”
Signatories have agreed that product promotions are to be carefully managed and drinks cards banned.
Superintendent Wemyss said the drinks cards to a certain dollar value posed a threat to moderate drinking.
“We don’t like drinks cards having to be used on the one night,” he said. “This can force patrons to overindulge because the card has a specific cut-off point.
“We’d rather see the card have a longer duration, so it doesn’t have to be used in the one session.”
The 18 members of the Accord are seeking a “consistent approach” on alcohol promotions such as two-for-one drinks offers, he said. “We are working towards a standard of behaviour where customers are not being encouraged to consume drinks rapidly.”
Cr Gledhill said the serving of “doubles” was also seen as undesirable.
“If someone orders a double whisky, for example, there’s no problem and they can have it, but [having barmen] just loading people up is not what the Accord is all about.”
He said signatories had to feel confident in the Accord’s oversight and focus, and feel confident that its provisions would not detract from their operations.
“If we can say via the Accord that this is the sort of standard of behaviour that people can expect in a premises, and be happy with their stay, then we will have done well.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 23 September 2015
