Hospitality business owners take a stand against the government’s ‘vertical drinking’ ban

Hospitality worker mental health, the disappearance of long-term patrons and drops in business are among some of the hidden costs of the state government’s standing while drinking ban.

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WITH our borders open and summer nearly upon us, businesses are calling for the state’s harsh vertical drinking ban to be scrapped with a new campaign.

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association’s Stand Up for Hospitality campaign is calling on the state government to ease the “unnecessary” restrictions on drinking alcohol while standing up by either canning them completely or shift it to a recommendation.

THA CEO Steve Old said venues had lost long-term customers and business due to the ban, with the mental health of staff also taking a hit.

CEO of the Tasmanian Hospitality Association, Steve Old. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“On one hand we take out hat off to the government and the health people and say well done, but I think they are dragging their heels in relation to how they deal with the hospitality side of it,” he said.

“We’re hearing a lot of feedback, and it’s been for a number of months, that staff are getting frustrated.

“The thing we’ve got to think about is the staff in these venues, they’re the ones who have to police all this so all the emphasis of all these different rules is put on the staff. We talk about mental health and all these different issues, it’s the staff that are at the frontline.

“This is just another restriction that we think could be eased to allow people to come back into our hospitality venues and enjoy themselves.”

Richmond Arms Hotel general manager Tom Darke said it had been rough trying to enforce the rule with locals.

Tom Darke general manager and Casey Kingston assistant manager at The Richmond Arms Hotel. Tasmanian Hospitality Association are calling for the no vertical drinking law to be relaxed in line with some other states. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“It’s very hard, you’re always repeating yourself,” he said.

“It creates a bit of negativity between the customer and the staff.

“I think we’ve got a lot of people who haven't come back to our establishments yet because they like to be standing up, moving around, talking freely.”

He said an increase in interstate patrons also put operators in a tricky position.

“The hardest thing is going to be the tourists, and informing them they’ve got to be seated when they’ve come from states where they don’t have to be seated.”

Labor has voiced its support for the campaign, with leader Rebecca White saying the government’s advice was inconsistent with that of experts in other states.

“The government shouldn’t be leaving venues with the burden of making things up as they go along. Clever, technology-based solutions are available — the government should roll them out immediately.”

A state government spokeswoman said restrictions were being reviewed regularly and were informed by Public Health advice to ensure the health and safety of all Tasmanians.

“We understand that current restrictions pose challenges to both businesses and their patrons but these measures are extremely important in limiting the spread of COVID-19 should it occur in our community,” she said.

Public Health will consider relaxing some restrictions in coming weeks, including drinking while standing and the number of people allowed in households.

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