wanttoretireat30. I agree that the majority should not be punished because of the actions of a few. But, it's not just "a few". Young people these days tend to want to live on the edge and party very hard. Too much booze, and too many licensed premises that want to feed the addiction. Why do young people leave to go out at 11pm?? Don't they have jobs? It's beyond me.
Anyway, my suggestions:
1. Restrict opening hours. 2. Come down hard, and I mean hard, on the perpetrators of the violence. Hence the mandatory sentences, because the Judges/Magistrates cannot be trusted to sentence offenders in line with the law and community expectations. 3. Prosecute publicans for serving intoxicated persons. Remove the license of habitual offenders.
All of these laws presently exist now, except for the restrictions on opening hours. I believe that there is quite a bit of political pressure coming to bear from the AHA, to maintain present arrangements.
