Cost of identity scanning could ruin bars, warns hotels lobby

Kings Cross hoteliers are warning that scanning technology being mandated by the NSW government will cost them tens of thousands of dollars a year due to the need to hire extra security staff.

In its latest attack on the plan to introduce identity scanners to 35 ''high risk'' pubs and nightclubs, the hotels argue the cost is ''outrageous'' compared with the benefits.

Australian Hotels Association NSW chief executive Paul Nicolaou likened the plan to switching from random breath testing to testing every driver during particular hours of the day. ''The cost to government to run such a scheme would be outrageous versus the benefit, as the scanner system is to hotels,'' Mr Nicolaou said.

Under legislation before Parliament, late-trading venues in Kings Cross with a capacity of more than 120 people will have to scan the identification of patrons. The government wants the system to operate after 7pm every day and for all trading hours on Fridays, weekends and public holidays.

The NSW AHA has previously warned that forcing hotels to use scanners mid-week and during daylight hours on weekends will drive customers away.

It is now seeking to highlight the cost of hiring security guards to operate the technology.

Mr Nicolaou said it could cost a venue like the Kings Cross Hotel up to $3500 a week, based on paying a security guard $50 an hour.

In September, the directors of another venue, the World Bar, wrote to the Kings Cross Liquor Accord estimating the cost of a security guard at $40 an hour. Because the hotel trades 18 hours a day, it could mean an additional annual cost of about $195,000.

Mr Nicolaou said the cost could affect the financial viability of some hotels but said the AHA supported scanners on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm to close.

This would ''allow evening meals and afternoon drinkers the ability to frequent [venues] then ramp up measures as the night progresses and the risk to safety rises''.

But the government says the longer hours are necessary to enforce bans imposed on patrons for 48 hours to a year under proposed new powers. A spokesman said Hospitality Minister George Souris declined to comment.

Source: WA Today, 15 October 2013