NYE booze ban likened to treatment of Al Qaeda

A decision to ban people from drinking alcohol in many of Melbourne’s inner parks on New Year’s Eve has been likened to treating citizens as if they’re in “Al Qaeda”.

Many Melbourne inner parks face a ban on public alcohol consumption on New Year’s Eve

On Tuesday, Yarra City Council voted in favour of prohibiting public alcohol consumption in all of its parks in areas including Richmond, Collingwood and Fitzroy, from 9am on New Year’s Eve to 9am on New Year’s Day.

However, not all councillors were in favour of implementing a complete ban.

“What they’re doing now is going from one extreme to another and they’re treating the young people that go down to Edinburgh Gardens as if they’re Al Qaeda,” councilor Stephen Jolly told ABC News. “It’s outrageous and it’s actually going to just drive the problem underground.”

He continued to advise there are other ways to avoid the damages and risks experienced at last year’s events.

“We have in Australia, in Victoria, a very successful festival model where people come together to enjoy music – no glass, lots of bins, lots of toilets, lots of security, lots of light and everyone has a good time,” he said.

“It’s absolutely not rocket science for us to be able to do that in Edinburgh Gardens this New Year’s Eve instead of going for this extremist view of banning everything.”

Last year’s celebrations culminated in a AU$30,000 clean-up bill, with paramedics reportedly “outraged” by the “dangerous” party conditions when the number of revellers exceeded 15,000 people.

“Council was faced with a difficult decision because we know many people enjoyed New Year’s Eve at Edinburgh Gardens and did not personally experience problems there last year,” Mayor Jackie Fristacky said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, we also received disturbing reports from police, ambulance officers and local residents of assaults, vandalism and anti-social behaviour in and around the Gardens and on private property as a result of overconsumption of alcohol and illicit drug taking on the night.”

The council estimates the overall cost of imposing the sanctions – including security, cleaning, equipment hire and staff – will be approximately AU$180,000.