DRINK-driving offences in the Albury area are set to soar past the 100 mark before Christmas.
More than 70 drink-drivers have already been caught in 2010 with more than three months left in the year including the peak party time leading into Christmas.
On one weekend in late July, three middle-aged men were caught over the limit in Albury with the city’s liquor accord making a commitment yesterday to help reverse the trend.
More than 30 offenders were caught between October and December last year and police are concerned with the number of people drink-driving after leaving city nightspots.
Patrons who are seen consuming booze in cabs on their way to the Dean Street area will also be slapped with $150 on-the-spot fines.
Liquor accord committee member Craig Shearer said more incentives would be available to designated drivers to combat the number of drink-driving offences.
“People are just not getting the message,” Mr Shearer said.
“Everything else we’ve done seems to have sent results down, but this is one we haven’t been able to put a dent in.
“We are providing a bus service free of charge on more nights taking them to their front door, but the message is still not getting through.”
Mr Shearer said people needed to plan their night better but warned them not to bring alcohol into the central business district and expect to enter nightspots.
He said the accord had been made aware of more people getting out of taxis with drinks then consuming them before entering nightspots.
“Certainly the cabs need to be more proactive in making sure their passengers aren’t carrying alcohol,” he said.
“If it gets past the cabbie and we catch them then we’ve all got the right to knock them back.
“We’ve seen people get out with numerous drinks in their hands after purposely trying to load up on cheaper alcohol.
“The alcohol can take effect 15 minutes after they arrive and we’ve let an intoxicated person into our premises.”
One positive for the accord was the recent trend of alcohol-related assaults going down.
“They have been on the decline over the past 12-18 months and it’s a result of our continuing good work,” Mr Shearer said.
“There is a whole range of things we are trying do like the new red card.”
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