Banning 'happy hour' in SA

[Matt Wastell (Matt)]

I was listening to Hack (current affairs on JJJ) and someone in the SA Government is banging on about banning happy hour as it promotes solid drinking.

I know there are problems with alcoholism in this country but.....

1. Drinking is legal
2. Selling alcohol is legal

If a pub wished to sell alcohol at reduced rates that should be OK.

The problems are cultural and this is not a solution.

We do not limit the number of cigarettes you can buy - we do not limit the amount junk food people can purchase.........

How dare they!

If it is really wrong it should be banned, made illegal - governments are hypocritical, they 'profiteer' and also claim it is wrong.

What do you think???

[Barrykgerdes]

What a great idea. how about going the other way and put a surcharge during the 6PM to 7PM period and give the extra money to me. I can spend it quite well I'm sure

Barry

[Kal (Andrew)]

The governments primary purpose is to make laws. Just because something is legal at the moment doesn't mean it is a god given right.

Having said that I personally don't agree with banning happy hour, but I do support raising the legal age to purchase alcohol to 21. Too many of the binge drinkers out there are young people.

[OzRob (Rob)]

It's part of the development of Australia: The Nanny State.

[asimov (John)]

I figure happy hour hasn't always existed so taking it away will just bring it back to normal. Anyway I'm a non drinker these days so it means diddly squat to me what they do

[pgc hunter]

While we're at it, let's ban everything even remotely fun, envigorating and unhealthy, and stuff that may kill you, like cars, aircraft, playing in the backyard, KFC, happy Juice...all in the name of protecting ourselves from ourselves.

If some of these mongo gubbermints had their free reign over society, we'd all be sentenced to eat rabbit food and drink low fat water and forced walk everywhere with the minister for puncy crap holding our hands for the rest of our lives.

[michaellxv (Michael)]

This is just a ploy to distract people from their attempt to close all clubs and bars from 4am-7am (except the casino).

I don't think I have ever been in a bar between 4am and 7am, and drinks after work is rare these days so I don't really care what they do.

[KenGee (Kenith Gee)]

So what are us saying we don't have a drinking problem in this country? or you don't think the government has a roll in controlling drugs? what practical solutions have you got to changing our drinking culture?

Pubs and clubs that offer happy hours and other cheap drinks promo's are no better the drug pushers on street corners.

[TrevorW]

This Govt and many state Govt's are hypocritical.

I'm in PS and know they give to the rich and take away from the poor because the poor are easy targets.

Why not ban everything, the Govt is full of two faced goody two shoes listening to verbal minority groups trying to buy votes for their next election so they can profit from it in one way or another.

Don't worry someone will have a meeting about it, call for a commitee, have more meetings and before anything is done an election will be held and then it'll all be forgotten

[GrahamL]

I think they should do away with happy hours and just have happy days instead

Better still allow round the clock service of alcohol and maybe throw in some blackjack and roulette as well , nothing could possibly go wrong , of course it would need some minor regulation to make sure the appropriate taxes and fees arn't skimped on . .. we could also let a large multinational corperation run it so there is no cost to taxpayers

now what to call it ?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

May we remind you.
Avoid topics about race, politics or religion.

thread is about this >I< far from being locked

I'm sure if people wish to discuss the shortcomings of our political system or morality of our various governments there are suitable forums elsewhere on the net.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by Matt Wastell

I was listening to Hack (current affairs on JJJ) and someone in the SA Government is banging on about banning happy hour as it promotes solid drinking.

I know there are problems with alcoholism in this country but.....

1. Drinking is legal
2. Selling alcohol is legal

If a pub wished to sell alcohol at reduced rates that should be OK.

The problems are cultural and this is not a solution.

We do not limit the number of cigarettes you can buy - we do not limit the amount junk food people can purchase.........

How dare they!

If it is really wrong it should be banned, made illegal - governments are hypocritical, they 'profiteer' and also claim it is wrong.

What do you think???

This is something I probably know more about than most of you. I am the General Manager of a fairly large Club.

The problem is a very small minority of people spoil things for everyone. 99% of the population can consume alcohol without becoming aggressive and causing problems. It's the 1% who cause all the problems.

While you might not think happy hours are a problem, the Club and Pub patrons and employees don't think its a good idea when they get punched, kicked or glassed by some drunk that can't handle his drink and carries on like an idiot.

This is the sort of think that happens when people drink too much

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/n...r/1583900.aspx

You need to watch the video footage

Consider that the proposed legislation is not designed to stop people having fun, its to protect the welfare and safety of the community because of a small percentage of people.

Here is a link to the guidelines on drink promotions in NSW.

[TrevorW]

Paul a general comment about the stupidity of politicians is not discussing politics AFAIAC, politics is when you argue differences between politcal parties over relevant issues, this type of knee jerk reaction could have come from any politician regardless of party ties.

Banning "Happy Hour" is not going to stop this type of behaviour happening.

I for one are in agreeance that the drinking age, voting age etc should go back to 21. I'm also a supporter of national service and corporal punishment.

Respect for authority, the aged, your fellow person and property by a greater percentage of the current generation no longer exists IMO.

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Paul a general comment about the stupidity of politicians is not discussing politics AFAIAC, politics is when you argue differences between politcal parties over relevant issues, this type of knee jerk reaction could have come from any politician regardless of party ties.

Banning "Happy Hour" is not going to stop this type of behaviour happening.

I for one are in agreeance that the drinking age, voting age etc should go back to 21. I'm also a supporter of national service and corporal punishment.

Respect for authority, the aged, your fellow person and property by a greater percentage of the current generation no longer exists IMO.

Here! Here!

I would also like to see the drinking holes closed. between 12:01 AM and 08:00 AM not because I am a non drinker but because these places and the people who work in them need a recovery time as well.

Barry

PS I remember 6 o'clock closing. There were more drunks sleeping it off in the park or gutter then than there are now with longer hours.

I remember the pubs closing at 6 and opening again for the evening session at 7. This suited me as I had a lot of mates who liked to drink but did not know when to stop. I was able to have a drink with them safely because we got turfed out at six and I could go home.

I love the happy hour at the club for a cheaper drink. but I would not miss it if it stopped.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

. I'm also a supporter corporal punishment.

I can tell you know, if you were a teacher and had hit my kid I would have come to the school and hit you, simple, fair and square

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I can tell you know, if you were a teacher and had hit my kid I would have come to the school and hit you, simple, fair and square

Serious? I'd first ask the kid what he did to deserve it. If he did then I'd ground him. That's why it's come to youngsters not respecting anything these days. I'm online with Trev on this.

[GrahamL]

I once got caned so hard it ruptured some blood vessel at the base of a finger, wasn't that messy .. did I deserve it ?.. for a long while possibly not the deputy heads daughter had a schoolgirl crush on my best friend and every chance he got to ping this guy for something usually had me along as well. I can't say I believe corpral punishment does any good
much less the idea of some sketchy public servant being able to take a sanctioned stick to anyone.

back on topic Johns right about the smallest minority being the problem , my wife worked in hospitality for many years and one incident
in particular summed it up well , a guest arrived by taxi to her place of employment straight from jail , out he went to a pub down the road , got turfed out late that night for picking fights and ended up wrestling with a bouncer , lost his room keys ,so got pot plants and smashed a hole through the motel door so he could unlock it .

happy hour or not theres people who are just a handfull of trouble
no matter what they pay for a drink , the industry is making some good choices I believe in self regulation, I don't know everywhere but locally after a certain time you cant leave or get thrown out of one venue and stumble off and enter another.

[Ric]

The best things in life fall into three categorys

Illegal, immoral & fattening

[TrevorW]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I can tell you know, if you were a teacher and had hit my kid I would have come to the school and hit you, simple, fair and square

Really so if your child was abusive , disruptive, threatening etc which would not happen by the way if he received the right guidance and discipline from his parents, you'd condone that over the the fact he was sent to a headmaster for punishment and you wonder why it's hard to get and keep teachers especially male ones when kids can run rife in school and in the streets, call me old school but so be it, the cane never hurt more than my pride but I knew what to expect if I was either abusive , disruptive, threatening in class, to a teacher or fellow student, and rightly so IMO.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

I knew what to expect if I was either abusive , disruptive, threatening in class, to a teacher or fellow student, and rightly so IMO.

That's right. And also to clarify there is a very clear line between physical discipline and abuse. A kids getting a smack will learn. I got heaps of them A kid getting beaten up or injured, well that's criminal, at home or at school. If the school enforces the same rules and boundaries I set at home I have no problem at all with it.