March 18, 2008
A MELBOURNE council is considering a "wet house" to stop drunks scaring customers away from a busy shopping strip.
Angry Footscray traders say there has been a sharp rise in drunkenness despite a ban on drinking in the shopping area, with drunks abusing customers and throwing bottles through shop windows.
The idea of a "wet house" where people with chronic alcohol problems could drink safely has been raised at a Maribyrnong Council meeting.
Cr Michael Clarke put forward the idea after visiting a similar project in London.
He said it would protect the public and allow alcohol-dependent people to get support.
"When you see people who are heavily intoxicated and they're behaviourally disturbed and are violent towards each other in the street, that's terrifying, particularly when you've got mothers with young children," he said.
"Having a wet house provides an environment where there is supervision, and their health and social needs can be attended to rather than just moving them along."
The possibility of turning a reserve popular with drinkers into a "wet park" was also raised. Toilets, barbecues and seating would be added to draw them away from the shopping mall.
Quynh Dieu, who owns a restaurant in the mall, said drunken violent behaviour had become a problem.
"A lot of customers say they won't come here because there's no safety any more," Mrs Dieu said. "People are always drinking outside and sitting at my tables.
"Sometimes they're violent. I had a bottle thrown through the front window. You call the police and by the time they come they've gone.
"But if you move them to the park then children and their families will be scared to go there. What we need is more police patrols."
Pharmacist Robert Tieu, who regularly contends with alcohol-affected people in his shop, said the plan might not be practical. "If the park is too far away from where the bottle shops are then they won't go there."
Alcohol policy consultant Mark Boyd said "wet houses" and "wet parks" had been successful overseas.
"It's a much more practical response than just burying our heads and pretending it's all going to go away," he said. "Instead of trying to push people into unsafe areas you could have outreach services like the homeless nursing service or brain injury agencies going along to the park and ensuring there is some level of health and safety for them as community residents."
Mr Boyd said chairs and tables fitted with games such as chequers could slow down drinking and give people a place to go for social support.
Mayor Michelle McDonald said she did not support the idea but it could be explored through the Maribyrnong Drug Reference Group, a collective of health, council, police and community representatives.
A MELBOURNE council is considering a "wet house" to stop drunks scaring customers away from a busy shopping strip.
Angry Footscray traders say there has been a sharp rise in drunkenness despite a ban on drinking in the shopping area, with drunks abusing customers and throwing bottles through shop windows.
The idea of a "wet house" where people with chronic alcohol problems could drink safely has been raised at a Maribyrnong Council meeting.
Cr Michael Clarke put forward the idea after visiting a similar project in London.
He said it would protect the public and allow alcohol-dependent people to get support.
"When you see people who are heavily intoxicated and they're behaviourally disturbed and are violent towards each other in the street, that's terrifying, particularly when you've got mothers with young children," he said.
"Having a wet house provides an environment where there is supervision, and their health and social needs can be attended to rather than just moving them along."
The possibility of turning a reserve popular with drinkers into a "wet park" was also raised. Toilets, barbecues and seating would be added to draw them away from the shopping mall.
Quynh Dieu, who owns a restaurant in the mall, said drunken violent behaviour had become a problem.
"A lot of customers say they won't come here because there's no safety any more," Mrs Dieu said. "People are always drinking outside and sitting at my tables.
"Sometimes they're violent. I had a bottle thrown through the front window. You call the police and by the time they come they've gone.
"But if you move them to the park then children and their families will be scared to go there. What we need is more police patrols."
Pharmacist Robert Tieu, who regularly contends with alcohol-affected people in his shop, said the plan might not be practical. "If the park is too far away from where the bottle shops are then they won't go there."
Alcohol policy consultant Mark Boyd said "wet houses" and "wet parks" had been successful overseas.
"It's a much more practical response than just burying our heads and pretending it's all going to go away," he said. "Instead of trying to push people into unsafe areas you could have outreach services like the homeless nursing service or brain injury agencies going along to the park and ensuring there is some level of health and safety for them as community residents."
Mr Boyd said chairs and tables fitted with games such as chequers could slow down drinking and give people a place to go for social support.
Mayor Michelle McDonald said she did not support the idea but it could be explored through the Maribyrnong Drug Reference Group, a collective of health, council, police and community representatives.
. Battling with my own probs lest others. Sorry for the rant hope you are well.
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