Mardi Gras alcohol ban

Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade will be alcohol-free from 2013, after a Sydney City Council committee meeting this week approved a ban on alcohol along the entire parade route, with support from both Mardi Gras organisers and the Surry Hills police.

“It’s actually a very minor change to the existing alcohol-free zones,” Mardi Gras spokesman James Rongen-Hall told the Star Observer.

“Most of the Oxford St strip is alcohol-free permanently. The amendment that was approved [on Monday] covers a few back streets and side streets, which prevents the possibility of there being alcohol ‘hot spots’.

“Also approved were a whole lot of permanent alcohol-free zones on the Kings Cross side of Oxford St, which will obviously apply during Mardi Gras as they would any other time of the year.”

Alcohol restrictions in Hyde Park and along Oxford St are already in place during the parade, while a trial alcohol ban along the parade route was instituted several years ago to combat alcohol-related antisocial behaviour.

“Oxford St has been a permanent alcohol-free zone for as long as anyone can remember, but before 2009 exemptions were granted for Mardi Gras,” Rongen-Hall said.

“Since 2009 those exemptions haven’t been requested or granted, and there’s been a dramatic reduction in alcohol-related violence in those years, so it’s something we continue to support.”