The NSW Government has released its latest half-yearly Violent Venues list, with fourteen venues named in the latest report.
The Violent Venues List, identifies venues that have had 12 or more violent incidences within their premises over a 12-month period. Those venues are then subject to additional trading restrictions, higher liquor licence fees and closer monitoring by Liquor & Gaming NSW.
Three venues were placed in Level 1, which is the most restrictive category: Sydney Junction Hotel in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton; Munich Brau Haus in Sydney’s The Rocks; and ivy in Sydney’s CBD.
Eleven venues were placed in Level 2, including seven venues in the greater Sydney area. The rest of the list was made up of venues from the regions of Coffs Harbour, Central Coast, Dubbo and Newcastle.
Overall decline
Two venues – Pontoon Bar in Sydney and the Seabreeze Hotel in Shoal Bay – were removed from the latest list, however the cumulative total of venues placed on the list rose by six since the last report. Despite the increase in venues placed on the list, Liquor & Gaming NSW deputy secretary Paul Newson highlighted that the rate of alcohol-related non-domestic assaults has been falling at an average of about seven per cent per annum for the last few years.
“When comparing these latest results with the violent venues scheme’s first round in 2008, there has been an 83 per cent fall in the number of violent incidents at listed venues – from 1,270 to 213,” Newson stated.
“While any alcohol-related violence is unwanted, these results continue to show the vast majority of venues across NSW do the right thing and provide a safe environment for people to enjoy a night out.”
Level 1 venues
Sydney Junction Hotel, Hamilton – 25
Munich Brau Haus, The Rocks – 21
Ivy, Sydney – 19
Level 2 venues
The Coast Hotel, Coffs Harbour – 17
The Sunken Monkey Hotel, Erina – 15
Amaroo Hotel, Dubbo – 14
Sugar Lounge, Manly – 14
King Street Hotel, Newcastle – 13
Scruffy Murphy’s, Sydney – 13
Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee – 13
Home Nightclub, Sydney – 13
Camden Hotel, Camden – 12
Penrith Leagues Club, Penrith – 12
Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach – 12