Six people barred from Mornington pubs and clubs in bid to stop alcohol fuelled violence
A big night out is leaving Mornington revellers with more than just a sore head, with at least half a dozen people accused of anti-social behaviour facing tough restrictions that could make even a coffee date off-limits.
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At least six people facing court for alleged anti-social behaviour could be barred from every licenced venue in Mornington – and blacklisted at pubs and clubs across the country.
Police on the peninsula will push for the blanket ban to be included in the mens’ sentence if they are found guilty.
Mornington Sergeant in charge of liquor licensing Jeremy Michau said while police’s ability to
request a court-sanctioned alcohol exclusion order had been available for a long time, there was now a fresh focus on it.
He said peninsula police wanted a zero-tolerance approach to alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour and would now push for these orders.
The men, aged 18 to 40, have been charged with a range of offences including dealing drugs inside venues, property damage and fighting.
The alleged offenders – from Mornington and across Melbourne – have already been barred from entering individual venues but a court order would have them banned from all alcohol-selling premises.
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And Sgt Michau warned while an alcohol exclusion order was only legally binding for a specific area, it often had a flow-on effect.
“If you’re on holiday on the Gold Coast and have your (driver’s) licence checked on entry and that order pops up, the door staff probably won’t let you in,” Sgt Michau said.
“The exclusion orders usually run from 12 to 24 months but they can be in place for life.”
He said being hit with an order could “seriously curtail” social activities for offenders.
“It’s not just pubs and bars you can’t enter; it’s any licensed premises,” he said.
“That means any cafe or restaurant. If your family or friends are meeting for brunch or even a coffee and the cafe is licensed, you can’t go in.”
Sgt Michau said police had been working with Mornington venues all summer to curb alcohol related violence and anti-social behaviour.
The crackdown has included more foot patrols, carpark checks and venue walk-throughs.
Uber pick up points have also been introduced to compliment existing safe taxi ranks.
Traders have welcomed the tough stance.
The Grand general manager Cam Price said keeping staff and patrons safe was the venue’s main priority.
“We want people to have a good time and get home safely,” Mr Price said.
“Anything that helps achieve that is a good thing.”
A publican who wanted to remain anonymous said a customer banned from his venue had phoned him from a Brisbane nightclub after he was refused entry.
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“This guy had been barred from our place about two years ago and it showed up when the Brisbane club did an ID scan and they wouldn’t let him in,” the publican said.
Another trader who did not want to be named said anti-social behaviour always escalated in the precinct with the influx of summer visitors.
“Just last week a couple of men smashed a heap of windows along Main St,” she said.
“There was no reason for it. They just walked along the street smashing windows as they passed.”