With Christmas and new year just around the corner, South Coast police have warned people to behave themselves while out at pubs and clubs.
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Over the weekend, police issued a number of infringements to pub and club-goers who took the meaning of ‘silly season’ a little too far.
Nowra police inspector Ray Stynes said he didn’t want to see people becoming obnoxious or violent during what should be a happy and relaxed time of year.
“It’s a timely reminder that at this time of year that we want people to be out and about having a good time and enjoying themselves, but not to the point where they become obnoxious and argumentative,” he said.
“Once that starts the staff at clubs and pubs are quite entitled to ask those people to leave.”
Over the weekend a number of people were charged, while several more were fined after they refused to listen to the instruction of club and pub staff. Inspector Stynes has reminded the public that staff have the right to ask a person to leave a premises if they are intoxicated.
“When the staff and security do tap people on the shoulder, we ask they head that warning and do as they are asked,” he said.
“If they don’t, and we get called, we will issue a fail to quit notice, and that’s $550 fine.
“We don’t want people to be having a good time and then ruining it and ending up costing themselves another $550.”
Inspector Stynes said those people who didn’t comply with staff or police instruction could also be issued a $1100 fine.
“In essence it could cost someone nearly $2000 in fines alone just for drinking too much,” he said.
Inspector Stynes said the behaviour of pub and club patrons up and down the coast hadn’t been “too bad” so far this silly season, but said people had been over-stepping the mark.
“Unfortunately patrons aren’t listening to staff and security and that’s when we get involved,” he said.
“We don’t necessarily want to do that but we also don’t want people crossing the line.”