Watering hole closed to mainlanders until ‘vertical drinking’ restriction is canned

A councillor and pub owner says mainlanders will be banned from his popular watering hole until the state government’s ‘un-Australian’ ban on ‘vertical drinking’ is canned.

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MAINLANDERS will be asked if they have been “vertical drinking” in the past 14 days upon entry to the popular Launceston pub Sporties Hotel and denied entry if the answer is ‘yes’.

Publican and City of Launceston councillor Nick Daking said he was taking a stand against the state government’s no standing rule for pubs and clubs by banning interstate travellers.

The protest follows the opening of Tasmania’s border to travellers from New Zealand and all Australian states and territories apart from Victoria and New South Wales.

Mr Daking said his pub would remain closed to recent travellers until the restriction was lifted.

“If I go to any other state [except Victoria and NSW] I can have a beer with them standing up,” he said.

“I’m standing up for my locals, I’m standing up for every Tasmanian hospitality business.

“Now is the time when we should be able to stand together with our visitors and have a drink.”

Publican and Launceston councillor Nick Daking is taking a stand against the government's 'vertical drinking' ban and refusing entry to patrons from the mainland. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Mr Daking said Premier Peter Gutwein had done a “fantastic job” protecting the state against COVID-19 and he had nothing against Mainlanders, but the restriction on Tasmanians was “un-Australian”.

He said the government needed to explain why stand-up drinking was considered “such a high-risk activity” if the restriction was to remain in place.

“There’s been no proof that standing or sitting down is safer or more risk.

“You can walk around a venue and talk to anyone you want, as long as you practice your own social distancing, with a water in your hand or a coffee. But you can’t do it with a beer in your hand.”

Publican and Launceston councillor Nick Daking is taking a stand against the government's 'vertical drinking' ban and refusing entry to patrons from the mainland. Picture: PATRICK GEE

The director of public health Mark Veitch on Friday said restrictions such as vertical drinking would be monitored.

He explained that vertical drinking restrictions enabled more patrons to enter venues and decreased chances of social contact potentially spreading COVID-19.

Mr Daking said he had received advice confirming his mainlander ban was legal.

“I don’t want to, but I will be for the sake of Tasmania.”