‘Young kids can’t handle it’ Surfers Paradise nightclub operators shake on new minimum drink pricing

The Surfers Paradise bar wars have seen nightclub bosses get together and agree not to disagree anymore - for now. Read what they decided on drinks deals.

The explosive Surfers Paradise bar wars has resulted in an unofficial agreement on minimum pricing for a basic spirit pours at $6 – or face wrath of the authorities.

A Surfers Paradise nightclub boss said all the venues at a recent meeting called by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) to discuss $3 discount drinks concern had agreed to an unofficial minimum price threshold of about $6 for a basic spirit pour.

“$6 – I think that was the responsible level of what a drink should be at. Anything lower than that would be considered irresponsible. Anything lower than $6 would not really be considered responsible sale of alcohol,” the nightclub boss said.

“That was the general consensus at the meeting of the operators – and OLGR agreed.”

Fabric Nightclub's advertisement for $3 drinks earlier this year. Picture: Supplied

OLGR called the meeting to address concerns raised about new player on the nightclub strip Fabric advertising $3 drinks at certain times.

Furious competitors had complained it would send everyone broke and feared it would lead to increased intoxication.

The new unofficial minimum of $6 was agreed to or it was made clear operators would be liable for Responsible Sale of Alcohol (RSA) breaches, a meeting source said.

Another Surfers Paradise operator said: “We don’t do discount drinks at all – but I would prefer no one discounted.

“It’s irresponsible. It can cause headaches for the community. Young kids who are starting out at university and just out of school aren’t fit for alcohol in copious quantities.

“And if you are discounting, after midnight all the trouble starts – fighting, urinating in the street. It’s cheap drinks that fuel all that.

“Even adults can’t really handle it – but kids are just the worst.”

An OLGR spokeswoman responded to the Bulletin’s questions about the new $6 minimum drink pricing, saying the department provided general advice to Gold Coast licensees.

“While the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation does not regulate or set prices for alcohol in licensed venues, we recently provided some general advice about acceptable promotions and practices and pricing at a meeting with several Gold Coast licensees.

“The price a venue chooses to charge for alcohol does not, on its own, determine whether the venue is complying with responsible service of alcohol requirements.

“Licensees, especially those offering discounted drinks, must take additional steps to minimise alcohol-related harm,” a Department of Justice and Attorney-General spokeswoman said.

President of Surfers Paradise Licensed Venue Association and Safe Night Precinct Tim Martin has also been contacted for comment.

Fabric Nightclub

The discount drinks drama comes after Bulletin revelations another source of contention between competing venues was bans via the ID scanning system on rival staff.

An ex-Fabric staffer had claimed they were red-flagged in the ID scanning system by Artesian Hospitality - but Artesian said the system allowed for restricting entry for “a number of reasons”.

“Restricting entry could be appropriate for a number of reasons, including staff of other venues who contravene certain rules. For example, promotions inside each other’s venues, causing issues or generally behaving in a way that is contrary to venue best practice,” an Artesian statement said.