Pubs Face Total Glass Ban

By Andrew Starke

Eight Queensland pubs and clubs have been banned from using regular glass receptacles, jugs, bottles or stubbies as the state’s government gets tough on glassings.

Last year liquor licensing authorities warned 77 establishments - the majority in the city’s nightclub districts: the Brisbane's CBD and Fortitude Valley – that they faced restrictions if it was determined that they were ‘high risk’ venues.

Since legislation was introduced in October 2009, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation has examined each of these venues, with each establishment judged on its merits and track record.

“Those venues are currently being notified by OLGR of any changes they will need to make but majority have already started making those changes and I commend them for that,” said Liquor Licensing minister, Peter Lawlor.

The eight venues that need to remove regular glass completely have not been named.

Contacted by TheShout, Queensland Hotels Association CEO, Justin O'Connor, questioned the Government’s decision not to name the establishments.

“The was no problem naming first 44 and then 77 establishments last year and it now appears that, having been ‘named and shamed’, these businesses have no case to answer,” he said.

O’Conner said the industry had not been consulted on the issue of violence in bars and glassings.

Some of the remaining 69 venues will however face lesser restrictions on glass products or have to submit a risk management plan detailing the steps they will take to minimise risk to patrons.

In some cases glass will still be allowed in the restaurant section or bottles will still be allowed in the bar.

However the eight facing a blanket ban will need to invest heavily in glass substitutes.

“High risk establishments will no longer be able make regular glass receptacles, jugs, bottles or stubbies available to patrons,” Lawlor said.

“Instead they must replace their regular glass with alternatives like toughened, tempered or polycarbonate glassware.”