Publicans ignore trial of plastic cups, curfew

THE alcohol-fuelled silly season is likely to come and go before inner-city pubs introduce plastic cups and 3am lock-outs.

The voluntary trial, announced by police and the City of Sydney last week in response to a spate of "glassing" incidents, is yet to officially begin.

The crime manager of the city central local area command, Detective Chief Inspector Jon Alt, said the police planned to write to the CBD's 400 licensed establishments this week. Fewer than 70 licensees attended a "liquor accord" meeting called by police last week.

"Being Christmas time, it's obviously a difficult time for everyone but we will be seeking to meet and encourage a number of more high-profile stakeholders to take part in the trial," Mr Alt said yesterday.

He could think of about 10 key establishments that police would target to sign the accord but would not name them.

The licensee of Scruffy Murphy's, Malcolm McGuinness, said his pub had introduced plastic cups and refused entry after 3am but had been disappointed more pubs had not followed suit.

"I am sure the police are disappointed, too," he said. "There were a lot of people who went to that meeting who said they would do it but haven't. If everyone worked together in this, I think it would work."

Ralph Guderjahn, the licensee of Jacksons on George, said the first he heard about the proposed trial was in the press.

"As far as I'm concerned, we run a good house and I'm not going to change the way we operate based on a story in the paper," he said.

The deputy chief executive of the Australian Hotels Association's NSW branch, David Elliott, said his organisation supported working with police to improve the safety of patrons and staff.

However, he said the Government could do more to curb alcohol-related violence, which was often sparked by disputes over taxis and queuing.

"I used to work for the police and I can tell you from first-hand experience that accords are the cheapest way to manage police resources in this state," he said. "Are they taking the cheapest option out?"

Source: SMH 19/12/07
Story: Sunanda Creagh Urban Affairs Reporter