Queensland’s new lock-out laws will work better if other measures to keep people safe are implemented at the same time, says QUT psychologist Dr Gavan Palk, who conducted studies on the trial Gold Coast and Brisbane lock-out in 2004 and 2005.
Dr Palk, from QUT’s CARRS-Q, said consideration of restricting licensed premises to 3am closure with a lock-out between 1-3am was long overdue.
However, he said a focus also needed to be put on club drugs which when combined with alcohol were partially responsible for increasing violence.
“The clubs drugs MDMA or ecstacy, and speed combine to increase disinhibition and make people more likely to think something like a coward punch is funny,” Dr Palk said.
“Also we have the concern that these drugs are tainted with heroin and other substances and some people have severe adverse reactions.
“To be truly effective and keep people safe from street violence, my research showed that changing the lock-out hours was just one part of the total move needed.
“We also need:
- Well-trained bouncers with good communication and conflict resolution skills
- Time-out rooms or ‘sin bins’ in clubs
- More walk-throughs by police
- Adequate public transport and supervised taxi ranks.”
Dr Palk said more female bouncers were needed.
“We know that women bouncers are successful in talking aggressive people down and resolving issues.
“Time out rooms where an intoxicated person could sit in a quiet place till they calm down are a better solution than putting them out on the street.
“We also need to make hoteliers more responsible for asking patrons to leave and police checking for under–age drinkers.
“And we also need better education in schools and by parents around alcohol and drugs, especially in public places.”
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT Media, 07 3138 2999 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au.
