The research,led by Deakin University in collaboration with The University of Queensland,Curtin University and others,interviewed 66 stakeholders with links to the nightlife industry about their views on whether the laws have succeeded in their goals of reducing alcohol-fuelled violence while still allowing regular trade in party precincts.
The stakeholders included hotel owners and other stakeholders on the hospitality side including security guards and taxi drivers,as well as a range of voices from police,health workers and local council employees.
The overall view,the researchers reported,was that the laws had mostly achieved their goals without adversely affecting businesses in those precincts.
“Smaller bars were mostly unaffected by last-drinks restrictions,whereas some larger venues report reductions in profits (but did not indicate the magnitude),” the researchers said in their discussion of the survey.
“Some venues,however,reported that reductions in sales were completely offset[or even that they make more profit] by having reduced the cost of staff.”
In terms of harm minimisation,stakeholders reported almost universal benefits from the 3am last drinks call.
“You know,we do generally have a quiet period between two o’clock in the morning until four which is awesome and that never used to be quite as such due to alcohol,” one health sector respondent told the researchers.