Pub drug war

The mixture of drugs and alcohol is causing an increase in violence in pubs according to Commercial Hotel licensee Rod Leonard.

“Drugs are more than half the reason why people are fighting,” Mr Leonard said.

On Saturday night police allegedly found ecstasy on four people in two licensed premises using a ‘drug dog’.

Police have warned there will be more operations, with police and drug dogs in Dubbo’s pubs in coming weeks.

Police will be targeting licensed premises, the sale and possession of illegal substances and street related offences in the CBD, according to Inspector Matt Goodwin.

Licensees told the Daily Liberal yesterday they were supporting the police in their war on drugs.

“We are 100 per cent behind it, the (drug) dogs are here every weekend,” Pastoral Hotel licensee Greg Pilon said.

“We have a no tolerance policy in place to assist the police,” Mr Leonard said.

“As soon as they are detected they are gone for life,” Mr Pilon said.

“We have already barred anyone who we suspect to be dealers, but of course new ones come in.”

Having seen their fair share of alcohol-fuelled violence they say it is a mixture of drugs and alcohol that has caused the issue of violence in pubs to rise.

“It is the mixture of the alcohol and drugs, but no one seems to want to talk about the drugs.

People get arrested for violence and they are asked how much they have had to drink, not what drugs they have taken, of course people won’t admit they have been on drugs.”

Amaroo Hotel licensee Nelson Kelly said the more drug busts in pubs the better.

“We had police come in here last weekend and yeah it is a bad look but it is good the police are on the front foot and cracking down,” Mr Kelly said. “The more they get the better.”

Security guards and staff are very much aware of the sudden changes in behaviour that occur to those who are under the influence of drugs, Mr Kelly said.

The increase of drugs in pubs is proving to be frustrating for licensees as it is having an adverse effect on the alcohol trade.

“We aren’t making any money with people sitting at the pub drinking water,” Mr Pilon said.

Mr Leonard agreed.

“It is most definitely affecting the alcohol trade, but we can tell the majority of the time who’s affected and who’s not,” Mr Leonard said.

Mr Kelly says is important the issue is brought out to the public.

lucy.rowles@ruralpress.com