N.S. W. Drunkenness Falls

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30553, 23 September 1964, Page 17

N. S. W. Drunkenness Falls

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) MELBOURNE, September 22. The incidence of drunkenness in New South Wales was falling although people were drinking more a head, the officer in charge of licences in New South Wales (Superintendent J. H. Milne) told the Liquor Royal Commission today. Superintendent Milne said there had been a short-lived increase in the number of people convicted for drunk-

enness soon after the introduction of 10 o’clock closing in February, 1955. But the figure had been falling since, in spite of a population increase. (Six o’clock closing is enforced through Victoria). Superintendent Milne said other noticeable improvements had followed the introduction of longer drinking hours. Less police enforcement was necessary, particularly since the abolition of the 6.30-7.30 p.m. meal break last year. There was a marked improvement in drinking habits, stemming from extensive renovations and improvement ■ to licensed premises; the vir-

tual elimination of excessive drinking; a rise in the general standard of behaviour, which was now “exceptionally good”; and an elimination of overcrowding in public bars, a condition which had often led to trouble. Superintendent Milne said New South Wale’s population rose 18 per cent between 1954 and 1964, from 3,462,000 to 4,109.000. In 1955, 81,000 people were convicted for drunkenness. This figure dropped to 77,800 the following year, 69,500 by 1959 and 66,300 last year, he said. The Liquor Royal Commissioner (Mr P. D. Phillips) Q.C., said that if the 1955 figure had been maintained

along with the population increase, the 1963 figure should have risen to about 85,000. ‘There has been a remarkable increase in sobriety,” Mr Phillips commented. “Are you satisfied that the population is more sober than nine or 10 years ago?” Superintendent Milne: Most definitely.

The superintendent said people were drinking more a head but they had greater time and more congenial conditions in which to drink it. He said his submission to the liquor commission was compiled from reports from his own branch, the traffic branch, the vice squad, C. 1.8. and the mobile squad.