Deakin University professor Peter Miller says closing all Adelaide pubs by 3am will cut violence, save money

Closing all pubs and clubs across Adelaide by 3am will reduce violence, lawlessness and save the community money, an expert says

Deakin University Associate Professor of Psychology Peter Miller, who will make a presentation in Adelaide on Friday at the Legal Services Commission Conference, said research showed that simply shutting pubs earlier is the best solution.

“That’s often not politically palatable … but that’s what the evidence most strongly points to,” he said.

The State Government introduced a late night code of practice for licensed venues in October last year that included a 3am lockout.

Venues can still trade beyond this time but patrons who leave a venue cannot re-enter.

The Government attributed the lockout as a reason for crime in the CBD falling up to 20 per cent, including a 13 per cent reduction in assaults, in the six months from October to March.

Prof Miller, who has spent the past five years studying the impact of lockouts, early closures and liquor licensing restrictions, said research had shown pub closures to be more effective than lockouts.

“A lockout at 3am is just completely a waste of time in terms of trying to address levels of intoxication,” he said.

“The important thing to think about is just how much this costs the community. It costs us in terms of policing, emergency services … it’s really, really expensive.”

Prof Miller, who also spent 12 years as a bouncer, said the model adopted in Newcastle, NSW, had been the most successful.

This model includes 1am lockouts, a ban on selling alcohol after 3am and a ban on shots after 10pm.

“When we look at Newcastle, because we have five years of data now, we can say what happens is people go out earlier in the night,” Prof Miller said.

“They spend less money at the supermarket buying really cheap grog and pre-fuelling and they spend more money in the pubs, going out earlier and having meals.

“That really changes the culture. Newcastle had a 58 per cent reduction in assaults over a five-year period.”

Prof Miller said shutting pubs earlier would also save money.

He cited an Australian Institute of Criminology report that found for every $1 spent in the industry, it cost the community $2 in terms of crime, health impacts and policing.

“It’s the police forces and the emergency departments that have to wear the consequences,” he said.

Russell Goldflam, president of the Criminal Lawyers Association of the Northern Territory, who is also speaking at today’s event, said raising the price of cheaper forms of alcohol, as had been done successfully in the NT, would help address problems.

“The most effective way to reduce alcohol-related harm is reduce the supply of alcohol,” he said.

“The most effective and sufficient way to do that is by raising the price of the cheapest forms of alcohol. These are the types of alcohol that are used in excess by people with an alcohol problem.”

The State Government has previously said it would look to strengthen the late night code of practice.

Source:  The Australian - 1 May 2014