Alcohol bans on Good Friday and other public holidays may be scrapped. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied
THE scrapping of booze bans on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day is being considered as part of a major overhaul of WA's alcohol licensing laws.
The Tourism Council of WA said outdated laws that prevented bottle shops and nightclubs from opening on religious holidays, and force pubs to close early on public holidays, were costing the state money.
Under a plan put to a Government committee reviewing WA's liquor laws, the council also called for Sunday trading restrictions such as forcing pubs to close at 10pm instead of midnight to be scrapped.
Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall told The Sunday Times that he met members of the committee this week to convince them of the merits of the plan.
Mr Hall said food and alcohol experiences were the single most popular activities among visitors to WA well ahead of shopping, the beach and nature-based activities.
Removing holiday liquor restrictions would be a "huge step forward" for the state as a tourism destination, he said.
Under WA's existing laws, liquor stores are prevented from opening on Christmas Day and Good Friday and can open only between noon and 10pm on Anzac Day.
Nightclubs are also forced to close on Christmas Day and Good Friday, while pubs and small bars can serve liquor from noon to 10pm with a meal.
Mr Hall said he understood why some people might object to selling alcohol on these days, but it was up to the Government, not individuals, to decide if it should be allowed.
"Other states like Victoria manage to do this perfectly well," he said. "Europe manages to do this perfectly well.
"I just don't understand why somehow we're different."
But Australian Christian Lobby state director Rhys Vallance said public holidays and Sundays were important family times and should not be exploited for money.
"As Christians we still see Christmas Day and Good Friday as sacred," Mr Vallance said. "They're also great opportunities, even if you're not a practising Christian, to have time together as a family."
Mr Hall said he did not believe the interests of tourism and hospitality businesses outweighed those of public health, but said licences were too often refused without a proper risk assessment being carried out.
The review committee will report to Racing, Gaming and Liquor Minister Terry Waldron later this year.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Plan for booze on Good Friday
Dengan url
https://donyblackedet.blogspot.com/2013/06/plan-for-booze-on-good-friday.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Plan for booze on Good Friday
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar