What Really Grinds My Gears...

Is how the Australian government plans to fix both underage and binge drinking. For those who may have missed it new laws were introduced yesterday allowing the government to put a tax on certain types of alcohol (such as pre-mix drinks as apparently that’s what all our youths drink).

For example before this bright new law existed you were to buy a four pack of Wild Turkeys for $16. As of 7pm last night the price has jumped to $20 for the exact some four pack. For those who are really poor at math that’s a $1 per can increase!

I’m not entirely sure how this is going to stop the great binge drinking dilemma as the price of a bottle of Jim Beam is roughly between $28 and $35 (depending on where you shop) and a bottle of coke can be picked up for around $2. Now instead of the teenagers buying those pesky pre-mix drinks, they will probably start buying entire bottles of spirits which contain a lot more alcohol as it’s no longer that much more expensive. This of course will just lead to even more drunken teenagers running rampant on our streets.

An even worse development would probably be an increase of drug use amongst our teens as you can pick up a many different varieties drugs for minimal cost these days.

The other new law which is to be trialled in Melbourne, Yarra, Stonnington and Port Phillip is 2am pub lock outs. As of 2am Melbourne clubs will not be allowing entry to any patrons into the pubs or clubs.

“Patrons who are already inside a venue will be able to stay after 2am, but they can't leave, and then re-enter.”

So if your local doesn’t have a designated smoking area inside their venue you may be in trouble.

“A government task force has reportedly acted in response to calls from police to clamp down on gangs and young drunks moving from pub to pub and causing trouble.”

I would like to know what the response calls are going to be like now with “gangs” and “young drunks” starting trouble with the bouncers who can’t legally let them in. It will be mayhem especially during the initial few weeks of this “trial”.

Even though the 2am lock out law is only a trial according to many reports it’s safe to say that it will quite probably be put in place.

Good work Parliament.