Melbourne's rogue pubs and bars dodge crackdown
So far, the only licensed venue in Melbourne's CBD to be caught operating inappropriately is Wonderland Karaoke. Source: Herald Sun
The Baillieu Government's demerit point crackdown on rogue pubs and clubs has so far failed to penalise notorious CBD trouble spots.
Six months after introducing a demerit point system - which can shut down problem venues found to be infringing the law - 10 liquor licensees have been hit with penalties, but only one is in Melbourne.
The Herald Sun can reveal no bars or nightclubs in CBD trouble spots such as King St have been sanctioned, with authorities penalising venues in Portland, Beaufort, Traralgon and Falls Creek, among others.
Demerit points can be awarded for serving drunk or under-age customers.
So far, the only Melbourne business caught operating inappropriately has been the Wonderland Karaoke.
After slamming the Brumby government for being soft on rogue bars, the Coalition promised to take a tougher stance.
It introduced a system whereby venues can be shut down for between 24 hours and 28 days if they reach a set number of demerit points.
Despite the lack of penalties against city bars, Consumer Affairs Minister Michael O'Brien said the Coalition was demonstrating a tougher approach.
"The demerit point system has only been in effect for six months and we have already seen penalties being handed down," he said.
"To date, none of the venues that have notoriously been identified as problematic have been in breach of licence conditions."
While its demerit points system had so far penalised regional pubs, restaurants, cafes and even a bottle shop, Mr O'Brien said it was only one aspect of the Government's enforcement regime.
In the past financial year, assaults in licensed premises dropped by almost 5 per cent, while those arrested for being drunk also decreased by more than 7 per cent.
Mr O'Brien said 59 criminal charges and 12 successful prosecutions had been pursued for liquor licensing offences during 2011-12.
A dozen enforceable undertakings were also imposed on licensees, including six bottle shops, two sporting clubs and two restaurants or cafes.
Source: The Herald Sun, 24 September 2012
