Adelaide Oval beer can plans a risk to police safety, union says

Adelaide Oval is quietly moving to bring back the beloved tinnie, but the police union warns nothing good will come of it. Vote in the poll.

Adelaide Oval wants to bring back the tinnie, quietly moving to change its liquor license to allow it to sell beer in aluminium cans.

But the move is being opposed by the state’s police union – with the backing of the Police Federation of Australia – over fears the cans may be used as missiles by drunk spectators.

In its application for the liquor licence variation, the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority states the move is “environmentally responsible’’ and suggests that if granted, the move should be reviewed in six months.

However, Police Association president Mark Carroll said the move would put the safety of police officers and others at risk and was “totally unnecessary.’’

“History has shown us that some intoxicated patrons will use aluminium cans as dangerous projectiles against police in an attempt to injure not just them, but often the players themselves,’’ he said.

“We believe it would be a retrograde step to revert back to selling beer in aluminium cans at the oval. Public safety should be the priority here, not the sale of alcohol.’’

Mr Carroll, who has written to Police Minister Joe Szakacs, urging him to “confirm your opposition’’ to the licensing variation, said the rationale behind the move was flawed.

“There are alternatives to the single use plastic cups now used, such as biodegradable cups. It’s not that hard to find them online,’’ he said.

A government spokesman said it was “open to this proposal, but will need to study the detail of the submission and hear the views of all relevant stakeholders.’’

A police spokesman said SAPOL had initially opposed AOSMA’s original application to vary its licence.

Mark Carroll, President of the Police Association of South Australia. Picture: Supplied

Plastic beer cups empty, full and half full inside the Adelaide Oval's Members Bar.

“As a result of negotiations with AOSMA a negotiated position has been reached to allow for the introduction of the sale and supply of liquor in cans on a twelve month trial incorporating a number of conditions designed specifically to prevent potential public safety issues,’’ the spokesman said.

“It is important to note AOSMA has no intention to cease the service of alcohol in cups. The agreed position has been put to the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner for consideration.’’

A trial has been underway at several grounds in Melbourne, including the MCG and Marvel Stadium, for several months, but Victorian Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said there had already been incidents of injuries caused by cans thrown by spectators with one woman suing over injuries to an eye.

“We believe it is a risk you don’t have to take. Nothing is wrong with the present system,’’ he said.

“It has been a problem in the past and you only need one bad outcome to have life changing consequences for someone hit by a can.’’

Police Federation chief executive officer Scott Weber said the proposed move was a recipe for disaster.’’

“Let’s stop the problem before it starts. Let’s be preventive, the current system works and there is no need to change it,’’ he said.

Police tackle a Melbourne Victory fan and escort him out of a game at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“Some games can get quite volatile, that’s already the reason there are alcohol restrictions at some games and not others, depending on which code and teams are playing each other.’’

An AOSMA spokesman said “it was not appropriate to comment while the matter is being considered but we look forward to providing further clarity if our application is successful.’’

However, the AOSMA application lodged with the Liquor and Gaming Commissioner states the replacement of single use plastic cups with recyclable aluminium cans “has clear environmental benefit.’’

“When cups are supplied on such a large scale, as they are at Adelaide Oval, the environmental impact can be significant. AOSMA is committed to reducing its environmental footprint, and supporting waste reduction and circular economy principles,’’ it states.

The application also claims the use of aluminium cans will result in less alcohol being consumed because they are slower to drink than cups of beer and the “level of negative impact on crowd behaviour and North Adelaide residents is expected to be equal to, if not less, than what is currently observed’’ and it dismisses concerns the cans would be used as weapons.

“AOSMA is of the view that aluminium cans present no greater risk of use as a projectile than that currently existing from water bottles, soft drink bottles, and plastic cups. In fact, plastic cups can present a more likely used projectile given the spray effect from throwing a cup,’’ it states.