Keeping you and your mates safe
On the street
Designated Areas
'Designated areas' are in place in certain popular nightspots throughout Victoria. Within a designated area police can use extra powers such as issuing banning notices and on-the-spot fines to reduce the potential for alcohol-related violence and disorder. Declared designated areas include:
- Ballarat Central Business District
- City of Greater Geelong
- City of Greater Bendigo
- City of Port Phillip
- City of Latrobe
- Dandenong
- Frankston
- Shepparton
- Traralgon
- Warrnambool
- South Yarra and Prahran
- Melbourne and surrounding areas
For more information see: Designated areas
Barring Powers for Licensees and Police
As of 1 August 2011, licensees and police have new powers to bar individuals from entering or remaining on licensed premises. For more information about the new barring powers and how they compare to existing powers for licensees to ban patrons from their premises see: Barring powers
Late night lockouts
Late hour entry declaration (lockouts) are an initiative, which allows patrons to remain on a licensed premises after a designated time but does not permit new customers to enter or customers to re-enter after leaving. This measure we put in place in certain areas of Victoria to reduce late night alcohol-related harm. For more information see: Late hour entry declarations
No Excuses (on the spot fines)
Patrons may be issued with an on-the-spot fine if they refuse to leave a licensed premises. Individuals may be refused entry or asked to leave licensed premises if they are drunk, violent, quarrelsome, disorderly, smoking on the premises. An on-the-spot fine could be $470 or more.
Breaching the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998
The Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 outlines specific penalties for breaches of the liquor law. They are issued to licensees, underage persons and any person that doesn’t obey the liquor law. For more information on penalties for breaching the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 see: Offences and Penalties (PDF)
Tips for a good night out
Going out on the town with your mates should be fun and free from violence or dangerous situations. Here is a list of resources, information and suggested tips to make sure you have a fun and safe night out with your mates.
- Helping a drunk friend
- What’s in a drink? Australian standard drink size
- Safe partying ideas and tips for avoiding fights
Getting home safely
Getting home safely after a night out is important and can help to minimise problem behaviour in popular nightspots. Melbourne’s NightRider buses provide a cheap and easy way to get home safely after midnight. Prepaid taxis are encouraging more services in areas that have previously been neglected due to the risk of fare evasion.
