Melbourne 2am lockout Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Melbourne 2am lockout - Case Study Example Heavy penalties in form of fines were equally designed and implemented where licensees were highly discouraged from breaching the lockout initiative. The failure of the initiative as experienced resulted from various factors, which led to great opposition such as some exceptions that were applied where among the 457 premises that were initial targets of the policy, 115 of them received exception to the policy. Issues The issues raised in the 2am lockout in Melbourne are numerous and spans around supporting as well as discouraging the policy. According to the political as well as the media view, late night violence within the Australian cities was wholly to blame on alcohol (Wilson, 2013, para 1-2). There was therefore the need to introduce a policy, which addressed the increase in violence and such related anti-social behavior as was blamed on use of alcohol within the late night hours. There were many arguments raised in support of the policy which ideally supported curtailing patro ns and licensees to access their premises within the stipulated time and which prohibited those who were within the respective venues to leave within the stipulated time. ... of people hoping from one venue to another after they are kicked out of the venue for such reasons as misbehaviors increased the rate of crime and violence within the country and hence the support of the policy. The reason on the need to curtail and prevent venue hopping was instructed by the fact that many of the related violence occur within the streets and not within the venues as would be expected. The timing of the proposed lockout was informed by the fact that this time represented the key time where the police involvement in curbing violence was on prime and hence the need to have the street movement of persons reduced for effectiveness. The reduction of street movement would be effective in allowing the police manage people and the occurrence of such crimes within the street as against the management of people within night venues. Moreover, the time between 2am and 7am was ample to allow police clear the streets of such drunkards or any resultant mess as well as allow the dru nkards sober up (Melbournepubs.com, 2008, para 5). On the other hand, there were numerous cases raised against the imposition of such a policy, which included the un-fateful punishing of law-abiding majority of the persons as of the irresponsible actions of just a minority segment of persons within the society. The policy framework brought with it curtailing of freedom of choice to the general population besides reducing civil liberties to be enjoyed. The imposition of the ban changed the city from what was so wonderful about it (which served to attract many people into the 24-hour economy city) and the choice of only one venue for a night would never be satisfying to the majority. Imposition of the same reduced the time for persons serving within the hospitality industry to hang out after