Opinion: Locking us out won’t end Sydney’s violence

With its newly-announced 1:30am central Sydney bar and club lock-out plan, NSW’s O’Farrell government is taking extreme measures which could destroy our nightlife and lead to many more problems.

It’s been described as ‘draconian’ and is, in my opinion, over-the-top. A mandatory 1.30am lockout, an end to serving alcoholic beverages at 3am, and to be effective statewide, not even letting people buy alcohol from the local bottle shop after 10pm.

We can understand where the premier’s coming from – something needs to change in order to reduce alcohol-fuelled violent incidents – but he’s punishing everybody who has safely enjoyed celebrating, drinking and partying in central Sydney, all in a hasty reaction to the actions of a brutish few.

O’Farrell himself has assured us it’s “not about penalising responsible drinkers,” but that’s of course what’s happening. Looking at the already-struggling Oxford Street strip and its surrounding Darlinghurst venues, this move is essentially a fast-forward to doomsday. The hard-line measure aimed at curbing alcohol violence is going to affect much of the population who enjoy the odd drink, and with the ‘gay golden mile’ directly in the line of fire, abruptly ending bar service is some of Australia’s most iconic LGBTI venues, which traditionally attract the most punters through their doors in the early morning hours of midnight to 2am.

We hope that our colourful bars and clubs, which for many act as safe-havens for expressing their personal identity in a social environment, won’t wither down and die as people forego the city in favour of the suburbs, opting for a less drama-filled evening.

Clover Moore and Alex Greenwich are both concerned that surrounding neighbourhoods might become new trouble hotspots in the early hours of the morning as ejected people wander around looking for a place to continue their boozing.

It seems there will be an increase in bus services from the Kings Cross precinct to connecting night buses at Town Hall, but I’m yet to see how funneling thousands of angry and upset drunks onto just a few, crowded suburban night-riders will be a remotely good idea.

I for one do love a good drink – but like so many of us, if I get utterly sloshed on bourbon and cokes or one too many strawberry daiquiris I’m not the type to go out looking for a fight. For me, it’s a nice way to relax – and it’s also a means of helping ease any jitters about dancing in front a room full of Greek-god muscle boys and tightly-toned twinks.

Also among the proposed new laws is a mandatory eight-year sentencing for fatal one-punch attacks involving alcohol and drugs. I can see how that might act as a deterrent, and in cases where someone’s life is ended because of a stupid, drunken punch, it’s only right that the protagonist receive a fair punishment.

If this is all about the violence though, members of our community are being targeted unnecessarily. It’s very rare that you’ll see a full-on punch up on our sexy strip. Can you honestly tell me you’ve ever seen a five-foot platinum blonde twink king-hit a muscle daddy or visa-versa? I’ve never bared witness to anything close to such an act.

Perhaps it’s worth looking at why many of these bullies bring it on themselves to prove their masculinity. Because, I feel, in many instances, it’s where part of the problem also arises. Hyper-masculinity is certainly a cause for concern. When young boys are constantly reprimanded, reminded and ridiculed about what it means to ‘be a man’, one can only assume they’ll eventually crack, and lash out with an attempt to prove just how ‘manly’ they really are.

Implementing a lockout and putting an end to a refreshing bevvie early in the morning and dancing until the morning light might just be the last straw for a thirsty Oxford Street. And it’ll be sad to see Sydney losing one of its key international tourism drawcards as our night-time economy will certainly suffer.

Let’s just hope that some of the extreme and unfair legislation being talked about gets an urgent rethink – because I don’t start getting my groove on until the DJ spins the 3am disco tunes.

Originally published online at SameSame.com.au, 21/01/2014