Warning: Small Bars are Dangerous
CEO of Drinkwise Australia, Chris Watters, has echoed calls to halt the development of small bars in Brisbane, following several reports earlier this week that Queensland Hotels Association is opposed to the idea of European style small bars, like those in Melbourne. Plans to foster a more sophisticated nightlife with a focus on smaller more boutique bars officially launched in Queensland this month.
However, the Brisbane Times reported this morning (24 July) that “boutique bars may not be the safe haven for drinkers they are cracked up to be, according to an organisation trying to change Australia’s boozy culture.”
Chris Watters CEO of DrinkWise Australia was quoted about Melbourne’s nightlife, saying: “What we know from Melbourne is - and I am working and operating out of Melbourne at the moment, where the boutique bar culture is alive and well - is that there are substantially more alcohol-abuse problems in the Melbourne CBD than there are in Brisbane. More deaths, more violence, more admissions into emergency areas.”
The story goes on to quote a Liquor Licensing Commision representative who said Brisbane’s move to boutique bars was moving slowly. He said three applications at Woolloongabba, South Brisbane and Surfer’s Paradise were currently being assessed.
In defense of the plans for Brisbane nightlife, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the council was not promoting boutique bars, instead opening up laneways for smaller, chic, diverse food and drinking businesses.
“What we are saying is that we have a program to enliven exciting opportunities in Brisbane’s old laneways,” Cr Newman said.
Click here to read the full story in the Brisbane Times.
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What a load of baloney! I am blown away that a CEO of such an organisation could be so out of touch and misleading in his observations!
Small bars don’t have 120sqm of pokies to finance the purchase of an understated 12 bedroom spread overlooking the beach for the hotel association
I’m with Dave. Where do Chris Watters’ interests lie? Or, who’s making deposits into his account?
As always, statistics can be made to suit any point of view.
How many of the alcohol related problems happen in the small bars.
Melbourne CBD also has a number of larger venues.
Beware the temperance league!
All the isusses this characters going on about all happen at the large pubs and clubs in melbourne like king street and chapel. Small bars are dangerous? haha! nice, alright lads, ready yourselves for fight club!! we are goin for a sazerac at the black pearl!
It’s simply a matter of money, both in Brisbane and Sydney. The AHA and the QHA are all worried that less people in hotels will see a drop in revenue from Pokies. They are purely looking after their own interests. It’s a absolute joke
This is total rubbish!!
After having owned a small bar for 8 years & now managing one that is at least 3 times larger, I can’t emphasise how much easier it is to moniter a crowd in a small bar. Having less space to occupy & less people in your venue gives management & staff better opportunity to watch alcohol intake & assess any potential danger. You ask any staff member working in a smaller venue on any given night & I can guarantee that they’d be able to tell you exactly what & how many drinks each of their customers had. Poor behaviour in a small venue stands out like a beacon, it’s impossible to miss, & it changes the whole atmosphere. Bad behaviour is more likely to get lost in a larger venue with more people.
It’s just plain common sense. Who do these ‘authorities’ think they are?! How fecking ignorant & embarrasing for them!
Queensland Hotels Association is opposed to the idea of small bars. Nah really?
Hahaha. I agree with CJS. Oh imagine what would happen if people were to imbibe at smaller, classy joints as opposed to larger hotels and clubs? Just wait… in a month we will be drinking our Sazeracs at The Lark out of plastic tumblers. Yum!
Someone needs to take Watters out for a drink in Melbourne and show him the potential that QLD has.
What a load of crap.