Newcastle early pub closings stop 4000 assaults

EARLIER closing times at Newcastle hotels have led to a sustained reduction in late-night violence, with up to 4000 assaults prevented in the nearly six years since the restrictions were imposed, a new study shows.

But a lockout in neighbouring Hamilton implemented in 2010 without a reduction in closing times has achieved little, with the number of assaults there hardly changing.

The University of Newcastle research, published today  in international journal Drug & Alcohol Review,  calls into question the effectiveness of lock-outs – 1.30am in Newcastle and 1am in Hamilton – which it describes as a ‘‘softer’’ strategy.

The research suggests alcohol-related assaults have reduced by about a third since the Liquor Administration Board imposed trading conditions, since dubbed ‘‘the Newcastle intervention’’, in 2008.

It follows initial findings of a 37per cent reduction in late-night assaults in the first 18 months after the changes, which required 14 hotels in the CBD to close by 3.30am or earlier, showing  the benefits of reducing alcohol availability have persisted in the longer term.

  The research team, led by Professor Kypros Kypri, examined the number of assaults between 10pm and 6am recorded by police for Newcastle and Hamilton over the seven years before the Newcastle changes, the first 18 months of the conditions, and the 3  years to March 2013.

They found assaults in Newcastle fell from an average 99 per quarter before the changes, to 68 assaults per quarter in their first 18 months and 71 per quarter for October 2009 to March 2013.

Assaults in Hamilton, where hotels were only ordered in August 2010 to lock out patrons from 1am but had no changes made to trading hours, remained stable at an average 23 per quarter before the Newcastle conditions, 24 per quarter after their introduction then 22 per quarter to March 2013.

The researchers concluded that while the Newcastle conditions involved more than  the  reduction in trading hours, that measure appeared the ‘‘active ingredient’’.

‘‘Softer’’ strategies, including lockouts, could be considered to have little effect given the lack of change at Hamilton, Professor Kypri said.

Overall, he estimated between 3000 and 4000 assaults had been prevented in Newcastle.

The findings were ‘‘further evidence’’ endorsing the O’Farrell government’s decision to  restrict the availability of alcohol after 3am in Sydney’s CBD.

Other NSW communities concerned at alcohol-fuelled violence should be given access to similar measures, earlier closing times for Hamilton should  be considered but lockouts may not be necessary. 

 ‘‘[A lockout is] not an evidence-based intervention. I’m not saying you don’t do it for that reason, but that you’d go for the things you know are effective,’’ Professor Kypri said.

He warned against the government’s decision to allow the sale of up to four drinks per person until shortly before ‘‘last drinks’’ in  Sydney venues, which can then remain open provided they don’t sell alcohol.

Newcastle venues have to cease selling alcohol half an hour before closing.

Professor Kypri said allowing the purchase of four drinks a person at 2.59am would make it difficult to enforce the sale curfew and people would be able to continue drinking until 4am or later.

‘‘It’s likely to produce a benefit, because it’s better than keeping no holds barred until 5am. But they’re just reducing the potency of the intervention by having such a big grey area,’’ he said.