By Andy Young, editor TheShout
A Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) online poll showed that of 350 Queenslanders 74 per cent supported the state governments plan for a 2am or 3am last call for drinks.
However, our Nightlife Queensland has said the results of FARE’s Galaxy poll should be viewed with caution as a gauge for the views of Queenslanders.
“An online poll conducted over a week, netting only 350 respondents, with no information about how or why they answered is pretty questionable,” Our Nightlife Queensland Secretary Nick Braban said.
Braban highlighted similar polls in 2014 gained over 12000 and 2000 responses and showed very different results.
“These surveys showed only 23.4 per cent of people supported lockouts and trading hour reductions. It should be noted, the accuracy of these surveys are questionable too, but it shows the lack of veracity that is inherent in online polling, on any issue.
“I could poll our supporters online and show you an almost 100 per cent rejection of these policies, so it needs to be remembered the person who replies to a poll from an organisation such as FARE probably already has some fairly strong views on this subject.
“We would hope our policy makers are cognisant of this, and we hope that they see that a sample size of 350 is too low to be considered at all indicative of anything.”
Meanwhile Queensland’s police commissioner Ian Stewart has questioned why alcohol-related violence seems to be part of Australia’s culture.
“It just seems to be part of our culture; that having a few drinks means it’s OK to belt someone,” Stewart told ABC radio on Monday.
“I’m not saying everyone’s in that category, but there are very, very many who seem to do that.
“There is no country I’ve ever visited, where I’ve seen the type of violence erupting, where patrons attack security staff, or emergency services staff, the way it seems to happen here in our country,’ he added.
“People [in other countries] seem to be able to drink and even sometimes drink to excess, but it doesn’t automatically mean they then get in a fight, which seems to be part of the Australian culture.”
Stewart also called on more education for children about alcohol, especially from parents.
“Where are the parents of these kids? Where are those who have some responsibility for them, in terms of the types of attitudes they now have?
“What are they going to be like when a wife, or spouse, or partner, says to them later in life ‘don’t have another drink, you’re getting out of control’? Does that meant they’re going to belt them too?”
Stewart added that he does believe attitudes and cultures can change, but that was not just the responsibility of governments.
“I think we can do something about it if we want to,” he said. “But it’s going to take the whole community to do it.”
Image care of Brisbane bar Maker.
