Byron Bay Trials Tough New Laws To Curb Booze Related Violence

The popular tourist town of Byron Bay on the New South Wales north coast is set to trial some strict new rules pertaining to the serving of alcohol in an attempt to curb alcohol related violence that has plagued the town, as reported by Fairfax this morning..

Under the new laws, which will be in place until September, clubs and patrons will see the manner in which spirits are served and consumed changed, as well as the implementation of an always controversial lockout.

- No shots of alcohol
- No jugs of alcohol
- No double measures of spirits
- No energy drinks to be served with alcohol after 2am
- No pre-mix spirits with alcohol content of over five percent to be served at any time
- No cocktails to be served after midnight
- A four drink limit per person after midnight
- No patrons will be permitted to enter licensed premises after 1.30am
- Bottle shops are to close no later than 11pm

Bottle shops in the town that operate under the Byron Bay liquor accord will be subject to further restrictions including:

- No casks of wine larger than two litres
- No alcoholic energy drinks
- No extremely cheap clean skin wine

Byron Bay has suffered from a spike in alcohol related assaults over the past couple of years, with the figure reportedly 260 incidents in the 12 months up to September 2012. This is a 20 percent rise from 2009-10 figures. The thriving town boasts some 71 licensed outlets.

Earlier this year a member of a Melbourne band was stabbed at a show by an intoxicated punter and is said to be lucky to be alive.