Liquor licensing will play an important role in the reinvention of Perth’s inner-city, but the proper control mechanisms are needed first. Emily Morgan reports.
FIFTY-FOUR small bars have opened in the five years since changes were made to Western Australia’s liquor licensing laws, altering Perth’s hospitality landscape.
At the same time, however, alcohol-fuelled violence is becoming more prevalent, and the debate continues around how to best mitigate these issues while facilitating the growth of a metropolitan Perth.
There’s no doubt that licensed venues will be an integral part of major urban development projects such as the Perth Waterfront and City Link.
Newly appointed Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall says a key element is innovative design and an integrated government approach is required when it comes to large-scale developments such as the Perth Waterfront.
“I think Perth lacks public domain space, open space where you can have that mix of lots of different small bars, small cafes, small restaurants, with some open space for events and entertainment,” Mr Hall told Business Class.
Mr Hall brings a fresh perspective to Perth, having arrived for the role only five weeks ago. He says the key to maximising the potential of opportunities like Perth Waterfront is a fine-grained approach that offers people an alternative reason to be in a public domain, as opposed to just drinking.
“Instead of really big venues you have a conglomeration of small venues that cater to different tastes and pull in a range of people. It’s not just a young crowd, it’s a tourist crowd, a residential and local crowd, older couples as well as families,” Mr Hall says.
“You underpin that with entertainment or events. It could be as simple as putting up a big screen to watch major sports events, but there are reasons to be there apart from just drinking. That is the key to success.”
Mike Daube, professor of health policy at Curtin University and director of the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth, agrees.
“There has been a bit of an assumption that tourism means selling more alcohol. Tourism is a lot more than that,” Professor Daube says.
Professor Daube stresses the importance of monitoring levels of access, even with small bars, and agreed that giving people public space and an alternative reason to be there is a crucial element in realigning WA’s relationship with drinking.
“It fits with the vision I hear Lisa Scaffidi talk about, which is to create an environment where people want to come to Perth, be in the middle of Perth; and drinking isn’t the only thing to do,” he says.
Racing and Gaming Minister Terry Waldron says the small bar licences introduced in 2006 have helped to redefine the types of venues available in Perth.
“I think it is a good way to go. It creates a very responsible drinking atmosphere. The public of Perth and WA are voting with their feet and small bars are rolling out in a controlled way,” he says.
Mr Hall says attracting diverse demographics that act as moderating forces is also important.
“Your starting point is the legislation that establishes the development authority, which clearly says one of your objectives is to create a lively public domain that is not just about lots of offices or residential space, but is somewhere that people mix,” he says.
According to Mr Hall, having one authority charged with the development of a project, and the ongoing management of its entertainment and events calendar, is integral to the successful management of a public space and, more broadly, a city.
Mr Hall is cautiously optimistic when it comes to the vision of Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and Premier Colin Barnett for the centre of Perth.
“The question is, are they going to get the legislation right, the funding right, the partnerships right between the development authority, the city, the arts precinct and departments ... is it all going to come together as a whole of government approach,” Mr Hall says.
Act skewed
Professor Daube isn’t anti-alcohol but is vocal about confusion surrounding changes to the Liquor Licensing Act made in 2006.
New objectives of the revised Act included developing facilities to cater to diverse community needs, and properly developing the liquor industry, tourism industry and other hospitality industries.
Prior to that, decisions on liquor licence approvals were made solely with the objective of minimising harm or ill health caused by the use of liquor, and providing adequate controls over its sale, disposal and consumption.
As WA’s population grows, and urban and state development expands, so do the complications associated with balancing community protection and the provision of diverse drinking options.
Professor Daube believes the more recent objectives have confused the purpose of the Liquor Licensing Act.
“It is just bizarre that the authorities have to give equal weight to interests of the community and the interests of the industry,” Professor Daube says.
"The purpose of liquor licensing should not be to look after the wellbeing of the liquor industry, they can do that pretty well themselves. It should above all be to look after and protect the interests of the community."
He believes a liquor licence is a privilege, not a right.
“When you get a liquor licence it is on the basis that you will sell responsibly a product which, when not properly used, can be an enormous force for harm. The first priority should always be the health and wellbeing of the community," Professor Daube says.
He says Mr Waldron is "asleep at the wheel" when it comes to liquor legislation and control.
“We know that the more access there is, the more people will consume, the more they consume, the more harm there will be - more harm in the community and more harm in those areas where there are liquor outlets," Professor Daube says.
He points to Auditor-General Colin Murphy's March report, 'Raising the Bar', a look at the implementation of key provisions in the Act.
The report was critical of the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor and the WA Police.
“Neither agency has comprehensive information on the patterns and causes of incidents in and around licensed premises," the report says.
“Neither agency undertakes any significant level of monitoring of whether alcohol is served responsibly in licensed premises. DRGL does not conduct activities in this area because it considers it does not have the resources or powers to do this effectively, while WA Police focus their efforts in other areas."
The state government's plan to curb alcohol-fuelled violence in WA focuses on targeting 'troublemakers' directly with either prohibition notices for what it calls 'upper end' criminal acts or barring notices, aimed at the 'lower end of the fence'.
“The balance I am trying to find and the state government is trying to find is to allow people to go out, enjoy a good night without being hurt or assaulted," Mr Waldron told Business Class.
“It is about targeting troublemakers - I am confident that is the right way to go."
But Professor Daube believes it is the licensees who need to be more closely monitored.
Mr Waldron admits it's difficult to manage the range of views within major political parties and the wider community on how to govern and control liquor licensing, and more generally the consumption of alcohol.
“Generally out there in the community there are wide-ranging views from virtually prohibiting alcohol to freeing it up completely. As the minister and as a government we have the responsibility to try to find the right balance," Mr Waldron says.
“Balance is quite often a matter of opinion, things change. Our society changes, it will continue to change and it will be a challenge for all governments to meet those changes and try to strike the right balance."
Professor Daube believes that, apart from better law enforcement and monitoring, a more comprehensive approach to monitoring pricing, access and promotion is required to firmly set the boundaries in WA.
“The balance at the moment is swinging heavily in favour of those who sell and promote the product, there is no constraint on alcohol sponsorship ... no constraint on promotion, alcohol tax is a dog's breakfast and we are getting irresponsible sales," he says.
“We should have much better enforcement and that should focus not so much on a few drunks out the front, that is for the police to handle, but on the people who are selling them the grog.
“I have absolutely no wish to demonise the industry on a whole, but there is a lot of irresponsibility around.
“The minister and the department are both very well intentioned, but if they are not asleep at the wheel, their eyes are not wide open."