The 2am Lockout Exemption List

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Turbulence ahead for drunk pilots

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is close to signing a $9 million testing agreement with Symbian Health according to The Age. The agreement is for random drug and alcohol tests for aviation workers throughout Australia. Workers caught with a blood-alcohol content of .02 or more, or who test positive to illicit drugs (cocaine, cannabis and opioids) face fines up to $5500 and could be fired.

Source: The Age

Our Booze Blues: Why do we drink?

A brilliant essay in Scotland's Sunday Herald addresses many concerns currently faced by Melbourne. James Alexander asks in his well-crafted piece "I suppose we need to ask ourselves if we want to be a nation that can't control our drinking. Are we proud of that?". It closes with a Scottish teenager, Douglas Dickson, saying "The only way to stop people drinking is making them not want to drink." Sage advice indeed.

Source: Sunday Herald

New Bar: Atticus Finch

East Brunswick's Lygon Street is quickly becoming a bit of a destination. With another new bar in Atticus Finch. Deck of Secrets says "with its semi retro feel and eclectic assortment of knic knacs, Atticus Finch retains a sense of understated elegance and graceful appeal". Click here to read the full update.

New Bar: Rusk

Caulfield South has a new bar, Rusk. "With soothing autumnal hues, white marble bar and bamboo feature wall, the compact front bar section is ideal for cosy drinks or nibbling traditional South African delights like the Biltong & Wors - a traditional South African dried coriander spiced beef and sausage selection." Click here to read more.

New Review: The Gem

Michael Harden would like to take you to Collingwood for a traditional inner north pub experience at The Gem. "The Gem used to be called Curry's Family Hotel and despite the framed Elvis portraits, the tattooed bartenders and a crowd that leans towards chunky boots and skinny jeans, the welcoming, unpretentious vibe suggested by the former name still holds sway." Click here to read the full Epicure review.

Freshly revamped: The Undertaker

Hawthorn's Undertaker has been renovated according to Deck of Secrets, and it sounds like there has been quite a change. "A classy refurb at this local watering hole has seen the relocation of the Dining Room upstairs, making way for an urbane new ground floor beer and wine bar lauded as ‘The Social.’" Click here to read about the updates and gawk at the photos.

New Review: The Vic

Abbotsford's The Vic is the most recent bar to be reviewed by Clem Bastow for Epicure. In summary; "Whether you're en route to dinner or escaping the Ikea mega-store, The Vic is an ideal stopover." Click here to read more about this friendly bar.

TheHappiestHour party Cancelled

The number one website for finding happy hours in Melbourne, TheHappiestHour, has had its official relaunch party cancelled. According to their blog post, "the venue owner received a letter from the powers that be today stating that by hosting the party, it could be in violation of some Responsible Drinking Laws". Is this a direct attack on Melbourne's number one happy hour website? Feel free to read all the speculation you can handle in the comments section of their blog.

New Bar: Radio

It doesn't seem that long ago that Gertrude Street was known for alcoholics, now it's a little hipper the old pubs are being renovated and new ones are popping up too. Radio is a cafe during the day, but after 5pm it becomes a late night attraction too. According to Deck of Secrets, "the raw, earthy decor is as understated as the outside except for an attention grabbing city-scape panorama plastered across the wall." Click here to read their impression.