How Queensland clubs are beating lockout laws

FRUSTRATED club and bar owners are skirting the state’s controversial lockout laws only weeks after the legislation was introduced.

Under the new laws all nightclubs are required to call last drinks at 3am before customers must swap to coffee or soft drinks. Pic Peter Wallis

FRUSTRATED club and bar owners are skirting the state’s controversial lockout laws only weeks after the legislation was introduced.

One venue has increased its cocktail menu from 19 to 97 drinks, while other owners are applying for extended trading hours and punters are taking measures into their own hands by organising ‘guerilla’ warehouse parties in secret locations.

Clubs say the moves are simply an attempt to stay alive after the Government effectively shaved two hours off trading times.

CLOSING DOORS: Fortitude Valley bar blames lockout laws

Under the new laws all nightclubs are required to call last drinks at 3am before customers must swap to coffee or soft drinks.

The first part of the lockout laws – which came into effect this month – prohibits the sale of ‘rapid intoxication drinks’ such as shots after midnight.

Despite this, revellers can still order neat serves of spirits after midnight.

The laws also forbid any cocktails containing more than 45ml of alcohol to be sold after midnight unless they are printed on a menu with a set price.

To combat this, bars across Fortitude Valley and the CBD have printed enormous cocktail menus with every conceivable drink available for their patrons.

One Brisbane bar redesigned its 19-cocktail menu to include 97 potential options. Other bartenders are serving neat spirits in unison to replace a traditional shooter.

Our Nightlife Queensland secretary Nick Braban said it was the only way bars could keep catering to customers.

“Many bars are looking for workarounds like creating really large cocktail lists which just highlights the inconsistencies in the legislation,” Mr Braban said.

The Met and GPO owner Trent Meade said his nightclubs had used a rule allowing licenced venues to apply for extended alcohol trading hours 12 times a year. “We knew our patronage would be confused by these appalling changes so for nine Saturday nights in a row we will use our exemptions to continue to serve alcohol until 5am,” Mr Meade said.

Clubs have gone as far as providing free McDonald’s cheeseburgers to partiers after 3am to keep them inside.

“As much as the Government would like us to serve to coffee and soft drinks after 3am, it just shows a true disconnection because that’s not what the punters want,” Mr Meade said.

Patrons have also rebelled against the laws with some taking their businesses underground to secret warehouse parties in Brisbane’s industrial suburbs.

The pop-up parties serve alcohol well past the lockout times but attendees will not receive the address until 1-hour before, to minimise the risk that it could get shut down.