Frankston Hoyts alcohol bid knocked back by council
A COUNCIL has called cut on Hoyts’ bid to serve alcohol at its Frankston movie complex, amid fears boozed-up patrons will run riot afterwards.
South East
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A COUNCIL has called cut on Hoyts’ bid to serve alcohol at its Frankston movie complex, amid fears boozed-up patrons will run riot afterwards.
Despite a council officer’s report recommending the permit be granted, Frankston councillors narrowly voted the permit application down at their last public meeting.
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Cr Steve Toms, who lives in central Frankston, said booze-fuelled violence and idiocy was already a serious problem in the area.
He said drunken yobbos were causing problems at all hours, and he feared the cinema booze plan would only make matters worse.
He said he wanted to protect young children from the dangers of alcohol abuse.
Mayor Colin Hampton said other cinemas serving alcohol largely catered for adults whereas Frankston Hoyts encouraged children to attend.
He said he was worried adults would consume alcohol in the foyer in front of children if the application was successful.
Cr Michael O’Reilly backed the plan, saying the cinema complex deserved support and the majority should not be punished due to the actions of a minority.
Contour Town Planning associate Sophie Kusznirczuk, for the applicant, said Hoyts had introduced the service of alcohol across its other cinema complexes.
Other councillors disapproved of the “normalisation of alcohol consumption”.
She told an earlier council meeting it was anticipated that only one in 50 cinema patrons would drink alcohol during a screening.
Ms Kusznirczuk said the business had been hit by home entertainment systems and streaming services.
Hoyts had responded by refurbishing its complexes with reclining chairs to provide a “luxury cinema experience at general admission prices”, she said.
Councillors voted 3-3, with the Mayor using his casting vote to veto the application.
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