Promising news for everyone who isn’t a drunk, aggressive moron: After a weekend of late-night violence that saw an alcohol-fuelled brawl spill out from behind NSW’s Most Violent Venue The Ivy and block traffic on George St, another in World Square that required police to use capsicum spray to bring under control, and a 21-year-old land in hospital after being coward-punched and knocked unconscious, the NSW government is today considering several proposals aimed at stopping the instances of dudes getting fucked up and hitting each other on the streets of the Sydney CBD.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell met with the cabinet this afternoon, and will tomorrow announce new alcohol policies that he believed the public will be “delighted by”, saying “I’m confident the package being taken to cabinet this afternoon addresses community concerns and will make a difference.”
The reforms, which will be the third set to be announced since 2011, could potentially include licensing regulation, more money for police, higher penalties for those who commit crimes while drunk or high, and more resources being put towards changing the damaging and dangerous binge drinking culture prevalent in NSW (neknomination, anyone?). Previous reforms included the three strikes rule for venues and the introduction of ID scanners at high-risk venues.
Fight after fight, punch after punch, death after death – hopefully the reforms announced tomorrow will do something to alter the grisly and depressing aftermath of a regular night out in Sydney.
Via news.com.au. Photo by Lisa Marie Williams for Getty Images Entertainment
