Earlier this month, Tone Deaf reported on the imminent introduction of lockout laws in Queensland, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that she would be pushing ahead with plans for a 1am lockout to be imposed on venues statewide.

Queensland currently has a 3am statewide lockout and the proposed laws would impose further restrictions on pubs and clubs, including a 1am lockout, 3am last drinks, and a ban on high-alcohol drinks after midnight, mirroring legislation currently in place in NSW.

However, part of the legislation which has only just received attention is a new capacity to actually regulate alcohol intake. As the Gold Coast Bulletin reports, Queensland clubs may soon be forced to count patrons’ drinks or risk fines of up to $56,000.

Under the new State Government laws, police will be able to breathalyse punters inside licensed venues. While the liquor industry is calling foul, Attorney General Yvette D’Ath says the laws are being in put in place to help curb alcohol-fuelled violence.

Should the plan be implemented, police could breathalyse club-goers and fine the owners if patrons are continually found to be “highly-intoxicated”. “Allowing police to breathalyse drunken patrons will help them to build cases for prosecution for court,” said Ms D’Ath.

Ms D’Ath said a consultation would continue regarding just what constitutes “high alcohol content”, but claimed “police consider a blood alcohol reading of 0.15 to be highly intoxicated.” However, the number of drinks resulting in a 0.15 reading differs from person to person.

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As inthemix notes, the effect of alcohol on patrons will vary depending on the person’s sex, weight, height, metabolic rate, and a range of other factors, including whether or not they’ve recently eaten.

“These laws are draconian,” Joey Lamttina, Managing Director of the Gold Coast’s Platinum nightclub, told inthemix. “Venue operators [already] have the most strictest laws to abide by and we do. Patrons need to be held accountable for their actions.”

Lamttina isn’t the only publican who’s angered by the new proposal. “If someone is arrested and has committed a crime and police want to breathalyse him, I support that,” James Tweddell, owner of Broadbeach restaurant and nightclub East, told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“But if someone wants to enjoy a night out, like a 40th, and the cops are going to walk in and breathalyse people at a venue, then that is ludicrous.” Queensland punters aren’t happy about the laws either.

“I understand violence is a problem but this is going too far,” said Tugun student Brittany Lewis. “I don’t understand how you can hold bar staff responsible for someone’s blood alcohol content and everyone has a different limit.”

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