DRUNKS booted out of Albury’s late-night venues will be handed a red card banning them for 24 hours in the latest step to curb anti-social behaviour in Dean Street.
Albury Liquor Accord has endorsed the introduction of the soccer-style red cards which have been distributed to The Bended Elbow, Zed Bar, Albion, Paddy’s and Roi Bar with the initiative also gaining the support of Albury Police.
They are expected to be in operation before this weekend when security staff will have the power to present patrons with a card explaining why they have been removed from the premises.
The introduction of the card system was mooted more than a year ago with Albury eliminating a warning yellow card and instead going for the zero tolerance red card.
Liquor Accord chairman and Albury councillor Daryl Betteridge said the red card system was another means of curbing trouble on the city nightclub strip.
“It further enforces that being anti-social or being intoxicated will not be tolerated and is another enforcement tool,” he said.
“If the police then come across this person stumbling around the streets or just doing something anti-social it is just another reference point.
“It’s more recognisable for the venue to have taken a positive action and removed them from the premises.
“It’s just another small piece in that whole puzzle.”
Last year, following an extensive forum between Melbourne Council and about 100 venue owners, nightclubs and pubs agreed to trial the card system.
The system has also been used in troublesome English nightclub districts such as Surrey where yellow cards are issued for offences such as spitting and throwing litter and red cards for more serious misbehaviour.
Under the Albury system, someone can be removed or refused entry to a licensed premises because they were drunk, violent, quarrelsome, disorderly, smoking in smoke-free areas or suspected of possessing a prohibited drug.
Patrons issued with a red card then must move more than 50m away from the venue and not re-enter or attempt to re-enter the premises within 24 hours.
Consideration will be given to evicted patrons who are trying to arrange transport, reside nearby or if the person has fears for their safety if they leave the vicinity.
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