Hoodies banned in nightspots
Tougher dress codes are being imposed on Bunbury punters in an effort to curb anti-social behaviour and quell violence in our pubs and clubs.
The Three Monkeys Bar at the Reef Hotel was one of the first nightspots to introduce a no hooded jacket policy and owner/manager John Blake said their dress standards had helped to keep ‘‘quarrelsome’’ clients outside the club’s doors.
‘‘We get 600 people here on a Saturday night and it doesn’t look good if they’re wearing hoodies — leave them in the lounge room,’’ he said.
MrBlake said the no hoodies policy was also for security purposes and allowed CCTV cameras to clearly identify patrons.
The Three Monkey’s Bar was among a number of licensed venues in Bunbury that had banned hooded jumpers.
Fitzgerald’s Irish Pub proprietor Glen Fitzgerald said their dress standards had improved the behaviour of their patrons.
‘‘It’s really a lot better,’’ Mr Fitzgerald said.
‘‘If they respect themselves then they respect other people.’’
Exit Nightclub owner/manager Albert Nascimento said door staff would turn away 20 to 30 people each night because they did not meet the venue’s dress code.
Venues such as the Parade Hotel and the Prince of Wales Hotel still allowed hooded jumpers to be worn but patrons were told not to put the hood over their heads when they entered.
South West liquor enforcement Sen. Const. Tony Strang said licensees were able to dictate their own dress standards under the Liquor Control Act.
‘‘So if they choose to have no hoodies, it’s obviously for a reason and I suggest that the reason is so that they can get accurate CCTV footage of patrons,’’ Sen. Const. Strang said.
‘‘I suppose it would have a positive effect in that they won’t be able to cover their identity up when they’re doing the wrong thing.
‘‘When I do inspections of licensed premises, I tell them to look at their dress standards or dress codes because the smarter people look, the better they feel about themselves.’’
Sen. Const. Strang said while licensed premises did put dress standards in place, some venues could impose a higher dress standard.
