Byron focus in liquor debate

There is debate on the north coast about the effectiveness of the state's Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing in reducing alcohol-fuelled violence.

The Police Association wants the office abolished, saying it's allowed Sydney to become a bloodbath.

On the north coast, Byron Bay is often the hot spot for alcohol-related violence.

Tougher licensing restrictions have recently been introduced, but the union's Tony King says the community deserves the credit.

"It wasn't OLGR that came in and said let's stop this, it was the weight of public opinion through the media that forced the local venues up there to put in place restrictions to stop the violence," he said.

"We've seen time and time again that OLGR just bowed to lobby groups."
But Nicqui Yazdi, from the town's Community Drug Action Team says the office is doing a good job.

"There is a whole new list of initiatives that have been put in place to deal with the alcohol problems we have here in Byron," she said.

"They (OLGR) are here all the time, in fact they have operations going on on almost a weekly basis where they have operatives in the licensed establishments looking at making sure that everything is being adhered to."

The State Government is standing by its record, citing the recent "sobering up" centres and a "three strikes" scheme for licensed venues.

Source: ABC News, 16 July 2013