Date: 2nd October 2008

Source: Watoday - Australia

One in three working bouncers fail police drug test

One in three bouncers tested in a recent police nightspot crackdown tested positive to drugs.

A shocking 13 out of 41 bouncers tested in August and September at venues across Perth, Broome, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie were found to have drugs in their systems.

Police say they will now review the bouncers' licences with the goal of revoking them.

Police targeted pubs and bars to see if managers and staff were complying with the Liquor Control Act.

Police commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said these types of operations aimed to reduce alcohol-related criminal and anti-social behaviour.

"We are constantly being told by our critics that the solution to alcohol-fuelled crime in and around licensed premises is to pour more and more police officers at the problem," Mr O'Callaghan said

A total of 73 infringements were issued to pub and bar staff who had breached the Liquor Control Act, totalling $62,400 worth of fines.

Among the offences picked up in the operation were allowing drunkenness at the venues, serving drunk people, allowing drinking outside premises and permitting lewd or indecent behaviour.

But Mr O'Callaghan said the results showed the irresponsible service of alcohol was still a major issue.

"Approximately 80 per cent of all tasks attended by police are alcohol related," he said.
"And police, the liquor industry and the community as a whole need to do everything we can to reduce that figure."

A further 22 fines were issued to people who had been caught drinking in the street around the targeted premises.

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