Alcohol in focus as liquor accord in pipeline

Busselton police are planning to set up a new liquor accord in the city to work with licensed venues to promote compliance and reduce anti-social behaviour.

South West Liquor Enforcement Unit officer-in-charge Frank Bancilhon confirmed they would work with the Busselton station to get liquor licensees together in the next fortnight.

He said a previous liquor accord only took in venues in the CBD and had recently lapsed.

The new agreement would involve 28 venues in Busselton, including hotels, taverns, liquor stores, clubs, restaurants and special license holders.

“The purpose of the accord is to drive anti-social behaviour and harm minimisation strategies,” Sergeant Bancilhon said.

“How we can all co-operate so we don’t have to step in and charge licensees. You can get help from police, help from the government and they can get ideas from each other.”

Sergeant Bancilhon said it was an appropriate time to reinvigorate the accord considering Busselton’s population growth and possible changes to the Liquor Control Act later this year.

Vasse Bar Café was part of the previous accord and manager Shane Tin said they would “definitely” be part of any new one.

“If we all do the same thing it will help a lot. When we cut someone off from one place we can ring other places to let them know,” Mr Tin said.

Busselton police will work with local venues to address ongoing anti-social behaviour problems.

Senior Sergeant Steve Principe said The Esplanade Hotel had been the focus of recent police efforts.

“It definitely is our most prominent place to manage on Friday and Saturday nights,” he said.

“It’s the main venue that has a majority of people, that’s probably why. If there was some other competition it might not be the case.”

Sen. Sgt Principe said preventing anti-social behaviour came down to venues keeping a strict eye on people’s alcohol consumption.

“I think they have to monitor the amount of alcohol people are consuming, don’t serve people that appear intoxicated, don’t let people in who have preloaded, check IDs.

They also have the opportunity to bar people,” he said.

The Esplanade Hotel was contacted for comment.