Last week saw a new release of the Minibar series of booklets, Minibar 11, was released by Beat Magazine. We were hoping that it'd be up on the Beat website by now so we could link to it, but it looks like you might all have to wait a bit longer - or better yet, your normal Beat distributor might still have a few copies lying around.
Once again "masterminded" by Leighroy Merrick, this edition sees reviews for Argy Bargy, Back Bar, The Cherry Tree, Chill On (Funk bar and the ice lounge), Cho Gao, Destino Latin Bar, Electric Ladyland, Element Lounge, eleven a, Ember Lounge, Eurotrash, Gertrude Hotel, The Grand, Heist, Hoo Haa, Hotel Nest, Hubcap, J'wow, The Mint, Mosq, Mothers Milk (Windsor and Brighton), Nectar Lounge, NextLevel @ Hotel Barkly, Ondergronds, Prahran Hotel, Public House, RedLove, Rehab, Richmond City Hotel, Society and White Bar. And the best news? It's still free.
08 May, 2008
Logic locked out
In an opinion piece for the Herald Sun, Tim Wilson, a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs in Melbourne, writes about the "dumb" decisions regarding a 2am lockout. He says the root causes of the problem are bar tenders serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons and inadequate police presence in the inner city at night. Click here to read the full article.
05 May, 2008
Why the alcopop tax is unAustralian
Claire Masters had the following to say in today's Daily Telegraph:
"...where do we draw the line? If we continue with this nanny state mantra governing the masses with an iron rod to protect the few, then where does it end? Don't step on the grass, no colouring outside the line, don't smoke in your car with children (actually I agree with this one) and no drinking in your own home.
You might think that last one was just a glib, off-the-cuff remark but no - that's exactly where it could end."
This is a follow-up to the NSW Government announcing that under radical new alcohol laws to be introduced on July 1, regulation can restrict the sale, supply, possession and consumption of liquor on any premises.
Source: Daily Telegraph
"...where do we draw the line? If we continue with this nanny state mantra governing the masses with an iron rod to protect the few, then where does it end? Don't step on the grass, no colouring outside the line, don't smoke in your car with children (actually I agree with this one) and no drinking in your own home.
You might think that last one was just a glib, off-the-cuff remark but no - that's exactly where it could end."
This is a follow-up to the NSW Government announcing that under radical new alcohol laws to be introduced on July 1, regulation can restrict the sale, supply, possession and consumption of liquor on any premises.
Source: Daily Telegraph
Alcohol trigger may have been found
What do you find in postmortem male brain tissue samples from 14 chronic alcoholics and 14 age-matched male individuals with no history of alcohol abuse? The beta-catenin protein that is involved in cell signaling and development is found at higher levels in alcoholics than those without a history of alcoholism. "We have identified a protein that may be a cause of alcohol dependence and tolerance, suggesting the possibility of developing a drug to inhibit the molecule and treat the disease," said Qiang Gu, PhD, author and senior professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Source: Science Daily
Source: Science Daily
03 May, 2008
Radical alcohol laws introduced
Beginning June 3rd, people will not be allowed to enter licensed venues in the CBD after 2am. Existing patrons will be allowed to remain on licensed premises until 7am or the end of the venue's allocated liquor license - whichever is earlier. Further, no new liquor licenses will be approved for venues hoping to open after 1am.
Victorian Premier John Brumby says the binge-drinking problem justifies such a move when he announced these restrictions yesterday as part of a three month trial in inner-city pubs, clubs and bars. He also announced a $17.6 million Liquor Licensing Compliance Directorate to be established within the Department of Justice. “This directorate will be responsible for the inspection and enforcement of liquor license laws and will be staffed by 30 inspectors and six lawyers,” Mr Brumby said. It is believed the directorate will also employ underage patrons to test age restrictions at venues.
The move comes from implementations of late entry bans in Ballarat, Warrnambool and Bendigo were successful, according to the Government, seeing a reduction in alcohol-related crime.
The reaction from Police has been positive, with Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon embracing the moves. "We know the majority of alcohol related violence occurs on the streets as people move from venue to venue, not in the actual venues themselves," she said. According to the Herald Sun, VicHealth boss Todd Harper said the reforms were the most significant in decades.
Brian Kearney, from the Australian Hotels Association, tentatively supported the lockout, with the provision that lower-risk venues be excluded. The Director of Liquor Licensing has advised of some exemptions from the lockout, and that these will only be granted to restaurants, the Crown Casino floor and licensees with full club licenses such as RSLs.
The public reaction has been intense with newspaper websites getting hundreds of comments and several new groups and events on Facebook appearing including "OFFICIAL MELBOURNE 2AM LOCKOUT PETITION, sign up and send to everyone" and "I will party on Parliament House steps in protest against the 2am curfew". The latter tells members "by joining this group you pledge that If the 2am curfew comes into effect, you will leave the clubs, bars and pubs at 2am and protest on Parliament House steps every single friday night until the curfew is lifted." MelbournePubs.com has launched a website, 2amlockout.com, monitoring the discussion around this issue.
Source: Victorian Government, The Age 1, 2, 3 & Herald Sun.
Victorian Premier John Brumby says the binge-drinking problem justifies such a move when he announced these restrictions yesterday as part of a three month trial in inner-city pubs, clubs and bars. He also announced a $17.6 million Liquor Licensing Compliance Directorate to be established within the Department of Justice. “This directorate will be responsible for the inspection and enforcement of liquor license laws and will be staffed by 30 inspectors and six lawyers,” Mr Brumby said. It is believed the directorate will also employ underage patrons to test age restrictions at venues.
The move comes from implementations of late entry bans in Ballarat, Warrnambool and Bendigo were successful, according to the Government, seeing a reduction in alcohol-related crime.
The reaction from Police has been positive, with Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon embracing the moves. "We know the majority of alcohol related violence occurs on the streets as people move from venue to venue, not in the actual venues themselves," she said. According to the Herald Sun, VicHealth boss Todd Harper said the reforms were the most significant in decades.
Brian Kearney, from the Australian Hotels Association, tentatively supported the lockout, with the provision that lower-risk venues be excluded. The Director of Liquor Licensing has advised of some exemptions from the lockout, and that these will only be granted to restaurants, the Crown Casino floor and licensees with full club licenses such as RSLs.
The public reaction has been intense with newspaper websites getting hundreds of comments and several new groups and events on Facebook appearing including "OFFICIAL MELBOURNE 2AM LOCKOUT PETITION, sign up and send to everyone" and "I will party on Parliament House steps in protest against the 2am curfew". The latter tells members "by joining this group you pledge that If the 2am curfew comes into effect, you will leave the clubs, bars and pubs at 2am and protest on Parliament House steps every single friday night until the curfew is lifted." MelbournePubs.com has launched a website, 2amlockout.com, monitoring the discussion around this issue.
Source: Victorian Government, The Age 1, 2, 3 & Herald Sun.
New Review: Sweatshop
Clem Bastow has reviewed the recently opened Sweatshop on Lonsdale Street for Epicure. "With West Coast Coolers and long necks in brown paper bags, why would you go anywhere else?" Click here to read the full review.
Industry: Risky teen drinking is down
The number of heavy drinkers aged between 14 and 19 has been lowering over the past few years according to research cited by industry analysts. Industry analysis of the official figures shows teenage girls and boys who are drinking at risky levels (five or more drinks a day or 29 or more drinks a week for girls and seven or more drinks a day or 43 or more drinks a week for boys) has steadily declined over the past six years.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
02 May, 2008
Drunks cannot feel fear
According to The Washington Post, "a new brain scan study shows drinking actually dampens the biological ability to feel fear."
Source: Washington Post
Source: Washington Post
WA wants alcohol health warnings
Today at a meeting of the nation's food regulation ministers, Western Australia will call for mandatory health warnings on alcohol packaging, according to the ABC. This follows on from discussion of the idea at COAG in March.
Source: ABC
Source: ABC
01 May, 2008
Adult bingers forgotten?
Anita Quigley, in her last column for the Daily Telegraph writes about the Australian public's obsession with alcohol and how raising the price of pre-mixed drinks by a $1 will not fix the larger social issues driving a nation of older binge drinkers.
Source: News.com.au
Source: News.com.au
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