By Ian Neubauer
Advertising guru John Singleton branded tough new restrictions forced upon 48 ‘problem’ venues in NSW as uncivilised at an event attended by NSW Premier Nathan Rees.
The new restrictions that came into effect last week include a lockout that prevents patrons from entering a venue after 2:00am and a ban on glasses and shots after midnight.
It also includes a controversial ‘time-out’ rule that forces bars to stop serving alcohol for ten minutes every hour after midnight — a meaasure that has been labelled a health and safety hazard by publicans, the AHA and industry stakeholders.
“Have you head of the new one where they stop serving beer every 10 minutes every hour? Well wouldn’t you just order double with a couple of minutes to go,” News Limited reported Singelton saying at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Bluetongue brewery in the Hunter Valley on Friday (December 5).
“Were you around when the six o’clock swill was on? Well I was and we used to order 10 schooners at 10 minutes to six and then you’d have to chugalug them before you left at seven. It’s uncivilised,” he said.
The Premier did not address Singleton’s concerns when he took to the podium and instead delivered a pre-written speech.
“This speech was written before the last week so it’s full of light-hearted puns around excessive amounts of alcohol. I’m having to scan as I go through,” he said.
Singelton was a director of Bluetongue before it was acquired by Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) in December last year.
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