It hasn’t taken long for the new owners of the Pearl Beach General Store to apply for a 7 day (10.30am-10.00pm) packaged liquor licence, a move that is already causing considerable angst amongst Pearl Beach permanent residents.
Quite simply, with 5 other take away liquor outlets within a 3 km radius of Pearl Beach an additional outlet at Pearl Beach is neither warranted or needed.
Pearl Beach is a unique and small village with an ageing population.
The village is already over-commercialised with short term rentals and day trippers.
We don’t need to witness the excessive partying, noise pollution and reckless driving inspired by the easy access to alcohol that could result from the granting of the packaged liquor licence.
The ability to buy take away liquor in Pearl Beach could lead to consumption across the road or on the Coral Crescent picnic areas in what are currently council mandated “no alcohol to be consumed zones” including on the beach, leading to potentially disruptive behaviour not acceptable within the Pearl Beach community.
A retail liquor outlet in Pearl Beach could potentially lead to more unlawful consumption of alcohol in our village as well as resulting in more bottles and cans on the beach, and it could also overtax the capacity of communal garbage containers which are often overflowing especially at weekends and holiday periods .
Concerned residents are urged to lodge their objections to this proposal with the NSW independent Liquor and Gaming before the April 3rd closing date for submissions.
Email, March 15
Tony Higgins, Pearl Beach
Unfortunately, liquor licensing laws have always been archaic. Among those who most strenuously resist the introduction of new liquor outlets are those who already have licenses to operate them. They usually oppose on moral grounds which is so ironic.
Alcohol is a significant health and social problem contributing to a number of diseases, car accidents, domestic violence and other forms of criminal activity. So it is understandable that there should be resistance to more purchasing opportunities.
However, it is unlikely that any campaign to reduce the level of consumption will meet with much success. So it is important to focus on the proliferation of outlets and the impact that they will have.
I remember when there was a takeaway alcohol outlet at the Patonga Beach. This led to large numbers of people congregating in the street and nearby, experiencing various levels of inebriation. At certain times of the day, it was not possible to pass through the street on foot without encountering some people in an inebriated state drinking from longnecks and being generally antisocial.
So in the context of Pearl Beach, I think that the focus should be on the impact that a takeaway outlet might have on the amenity of the immediately surrounding area with an unpatrolled family beach, kids playground, restaurants and public toilets. There is also a continuing issue with passing taffic.
What was the point of the alcohol-free-zone if it was not to preserve the special qualities of this area?
Alcohol with a sit-down meal should be the limit.