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| Down Under |
| Smoke bans 'lead to illegal grog shops' |
| 2007-01-15 |
| SMOKING bans could spark an increase in drink-driving and underage drinking as traditional pub clientele turn to backyard establishments, a hotelier has warned. Tasmania, the first state to place a blanket ban on smoking in bars 12 months ago, has experienced a rise in illegal pubs, a situation hoteliers say is likely to spread. Sly-grogging in sheds, garages and backyards had been reported in about 30 towns across Tasmania, with up to two or three unlicensed premises per town, Australian Hotels Association, Tasmanian manager Daniel Hanna said today. Most reports were from regional or country areas, although some "shed drinking'' was occurring in the suburbs, usually in areas with a large proportion of traditional clientele, such as smokers not interested in gaming facilities. "We've been snowed under with reports,'' Mr Hanna said. "Some of these premises are operating everyday with a large number of people drinking for a large number of hours. "There is no responsible serving of alcohol, no supervision of minors, these places are not licensed and they are not regulated. "The situation is setting the scene for irresponsible drinking, drink-driving and the sale of alcohol to minors.'' He said smoke-free legislation introduced into Tasmania in January 2006 was one explanation for the spate of backyard establishments. With the rest of Australia having brought in, or in the process of bringing in, their own smoke-free laws, the number of illegal, unlicensed drinking houses was expected to spread, he said. AHA national executive director Bill Healey urged state police and liquor licensing authorities to take a proactive approach to the problem. The phenomenon of backyard pubs would be discussed at a meeting of AHA executives next month, Mr Healey said. "It's an illegal activity no different from drug-pushing. We want it nipped in the bud as quickly as possible,'' he said. Tasmania Police today said they had received no formal complaints about illegal pubs and had about two reports of illegal liquor sales in the last two years. "Police view these sorts of allegations seriously and appropriate action will be taken if people are found to be breaching liquor licensing laws,'' Assistant Commissioner Scott Tilyard said. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #5 Drinking sly grog, and smoking "chop"? |
| Posted by: Marlborough Man 2007-01-15 20:29 |
| #4 Sly-grogging in sheds, garages and backyards In my youth we called such situations "parties". Back when we hadn't much money to spend we had BYOB parties, where we provided the house and the food, and our guests brought things to drink. We even had the extravagance of an outdoor smoking porch, which doubled as a place to sit in nice weather. /How idiotic! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-01-15 13:19 |
| #3 You live on a very large farm. Among other produce, you raise chickens and sell the eggs You have done so for years. The eggs are addictive - not good tasting or anything, just addictive. The eggs sell like crazy. You make a fortune. Years go by and you discover people who eat your eggs get ill and then they die. Lots of them. You do some research and discover the eggs you are selling are killing them. Slowly. Expensively. So you raise the price; Maybe that will dissuade them. But the eggs are still addictive and kill people and besides, you're making a fortune. So you colour them black and label them "poison eggs" and raise the price again. But the eggs are still addictive and kill people and, besides, you're making a fortune. So you sue the chickens to make them pay for the people who are dying. After all, it's clearly the fault of the chickens. Besides, you're making a fortune Otherwise, you'd stop selling the eggs. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2007-01-15 12:56 |
| #2 How about just leaving people alone? If you want a smoke free environment, then go to the smoke free bar or restraunt. Of course none of these nanny states are turning down tobacco taxes... |
| Posted by: Cromoper Glinens6509 2007-01-15 12:28 |
| #1 Cause, meet effect. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2007-01-15 11:48 |