Locked Out Of A Social Life
Newcastle Herald
Friday March 21, 2008
THEY are young, like to socialise and say they are being punished with the introduction of new trading hour restrictions at inner-city pubs that came into effect last night.
They say the real causes of alcohol-fuelled violence in Newcastle's streets will not be addressed through the introduction of a 1am lockout and 3am closing times.As a chef, Ben Eisenhut, 26, of Cooks Hill, is concerned he will miss out on drinks with friends after finishing work late at night, because of the new lockout."I don't go out to get drunk, I go out to have a drink and unwind after work," he said."I will miss out but those people getting smashed will still be able to do so they will just go out earlier."Nicole Wilson, 24, an events manager from Merewether, says a lack of public transport is the city's biggest problem."This should not be done without transport first being considered," she said."Services are bad and it takes ages to get a taxi now it will be worse."Sarah Jarrett, 26, of Cooks Hill, who works in marketing, says she does not stay out until 5am and will not be affected by the earlier pub closures.But she says patrons are not the problem, it is the people who loiter in the streets who cause the trouble, and more police are needed. "It gives Newcastle a bad image," she said.Natalie Grant, 31, a Cooks Hill photographer, said the lockout was unnecessary.Sales consultant Ben Nicol, 24, of Merewether, said the restrictions removed the choices available to responsible adults, who were not the problem in the first place.Online poll theherald.com.au
© 2008 Newcastle Herald