Adelaide booze-fuelled problems ‘scaring’ tourists who need help walking to CBD hotels | Alcohol sale bans extended

Bar and hotel staff are being forced to walk frightened tourists back to CBD hotels as alcohol-fuelled violence blights the city’s most popular areas.

Patrons are scared to return to their hotels alone due to the anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled violence on North Tce. Picture: Local business manager Virginia Iommazzo, captured by Brenton Edwards

Hospitality staff are being forced to escort frightened tourists or visitors back to CBD hotels as the state’s liquor watchdog extends takeaway alcohol sale restrictions until the festive season.

Authorities are battling alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour blighting Adelaide’s most popular areas amid reports harassment and petty CBD street crime is still a “big problem”.

Police and agency officials have now been warned that frightened tourists, and city visitors, have sought help from bar and restaurant staff to walk back to their hotels.

Management of major CBD hotels have relayed concerns about guests being left scared on “dangerous” city streets – especially at night – while some tourists are then outlining their fears on social media.

The Parliament and Railway Station precinct of North Tce is a different story by night. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Liquor and Gambling Commissioner, Dini Soulio, reimposed a grog crackdown on bottle shops and licensed venues – first launched for a month at Easter – for six weeks until Tuesday.

But acting on police advice, Mr Soulio has ordered restrictions on takeaway alcohol sales now be enforced until at least late November as authorities assess its effect on general city safety.

Restrictions, which are similar to those imposed in Port Augusta and Whyalla, limited the sale of various takeaway liquor.

A special state government safety body, which endorsed the almost six month ban extension, last week heard how city anti-social behaviour was still a “big problem”, particularly around the Adelaide Railway Station on North Tce.

Senior officers told the Safety and Wellbeing Taskforce that numerous calls were “needing police attention” despite early results showing restrictions maybe working.

Police, who have boosted patrols to troubled hot spots through Operation Paragon, and bureaucrats have further heard how security guards at a popular city pub were assaulted in consecutive days in the past fortnight.

“The Premier (Peter Malinauskas) is having a frenzied go at bringing really amazing events to the state,” one senior official said.

“But one thing that can threaten its impact, is people coming here and having a bad experience when they arrive because of intimidating behaviour on the city’s streets.”

Authorities want to solve rising “harm” at hotspot areas around the western part of North Tce, which includes the Convention Centre, railway station and Parliament House.

Reported problems involve indigenous groups, record levels of homeless people suffering through the cost of living crisis, significant mental health issues and drunken revellers.

Politicians and staff working late at Parliament House have been warned to leave in pairs and to avoid long waits for buses amid violent incidents, including assaults.

Restrictions include no sales of four and five litre casks of wine, as well as bans on purchasing of fortified wine casks such as port, sherry or brandy.

Restrictions of sales are also on either one two-litre cask, two 700ml bottles of spirits or a one-litre bottle of spirits per person, each day.

Politicians and staff working late at Parliament House have been warned to leave in pairs to avoid violent incidents, including assaults. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Task-force members, including Human Services department chiefs, Mr Soulio, senior police and SA Health bosses, reviewed the trial with industry leaders last Tuesday.

Mr Soulio, who is also assessing late-night lockout laws, said: “The feedback from police is that while the restrictions appear to be having an impact, there are still a number of call-outs needing police attention.

“This extension will help us gather the data we need to assess the impact of these restrictions, how it flows on to local support services and what we may need to consider beyond.”

Australian Hotels Association deputy chief executive officer, Anna Moeller, said while the hospitality industry was supportive, she warned restrictions – “a blunt instrument” – was not a long-term solution.

A police spokeswoman said Operation Paragon would not provide a long-term solution to crime and anti-social behaviour in the CBD.

“Medium to long term solutions will rely on an ability to work with the community to enable police and other agencies to develop positive and sustainable outcomes,” she said.

A Human Services Department spokeswoman said initiatives having more cultural workers and expanding transport options to allow intoxicated people safe journeys to homes or shelters.