The Australian Hotels Association (NSW) has today offered to fund a trial of mandatory drug testing of all people arrested for alleged violent anti-social behaviour.



“We are prepared to put $100,000 on the table right away to get this off and running on a six-month trial,” said AHA (NSW) CEO, Sally Fielke.



“We stand ready to work with police and the State Government. The use of drugs by young people is the elephant in the room.”



Ms Fielke said there is no doubt many young people are mixing drugs like ecstasy and cocaine with alcohol in a violent cocktail, with serious implications.



“Surely we need a detailed picture of what is a hidden but serious problem in our community, “Ms Fielke added.



The AHA (NSW) CEO said for too long, hotels have been made the scapegoat for what is a much wider community problem. While hoteliers are continuing to work hard on Responsible Service of Alcohol provisions and other alcohol-related initiatives, this becomes virtually ineffective when drugs are thrown into the mix.



The AHA (NSW) is concerned at the continued seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs including ice, ecstasy and a new menace, street name ‘meow meow’.



“The AHA (NSW) has a lot at stake in this issue and we have invested half a billion dollars a year in security, employing 55,000 people Statewide,” Ms Fielke said.



“We’re sick of security and other hotel staff being assaulted at the entrances to venues by people coming from the public domain pre-fuelled with alcohol or drugs or a combination of both.



“It’s time we were able to gain a complete picture of just what we and the community are up against.”





-ends-



Media contact:

Samantha Panigiris 0434 359 741