Lockout Laws 'A Complete Failure'

According to a study by the University of Adelaide, the introduction of lockout laws may not be the reason as to why the number of alcohol-related violence have decreased in recent times.

In a paper published by the Alternative Law Journal, law lecturer Dr Mark Giancaspro refers to a number of cities throughout the county who have adopted the lockout laws only for it to prove a failure. 

"Queensland ’s 3.00am lockout was condemned in a Parliamentary Inquiry in 2010. One criminology expert labelled the law ‘a complete, absolute 100% failure'," Giancaspro writes.

"The 2.00am lockout trialled in Melbourne in 2008 was similarly shown to have little impact upon alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour and was promptly abolished. In fact, there were claims that incidents of assault had increased following the introduction of the lockout. The data relating to the lockout laws in Perth and Sydney does not paint a clear picture either way."

In regards to South Australia, Giancaspro references the Late Night Trading Code Of Practice that was introduced in 2013 and the initiatives that it brought along as a contributing factor to the drop in alcohol-related violence. 

"These include: requiring licensed venues to use particular forms of glassware; limiting the drink varieties they can sell at certain times; providing first aid officers and public transport information; and better managing queues outside their premises."

Three months after the laws, which prevent pub and club patrons from returning or entering a venue after 3am, were introduced, the State Government issued a release which said that there was a 25 percent drop in alcohol-related violence and bad behaviour in the city, a figure that Giancaspro refutes. 

He believes that a number of factors, including "improved police enforcement" had a bigger role in the drop in figures and that these could be "propping up" the reported figures. 

"...there is no obvious and systemic correlation between the introduction of lockout laws and a reduction in incidences of alcohol-related violence."