Support for Surfers' pub hours to remain unchanged

A business leader says the trading hours of pubs and clubs should remain unchanged in Surfers Paradise and its Drink Safe Precinct should be given a permanent role.

The Queensland Government has agreed to fund the precincts in Surfers Paradise, Brisbane and Townsville, while it considers measures, including earlier closing hours, to address alcohol-fuelled violence in the state.

Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw says 46 per cent of all visitors to the Gold Coast stay in the tourism hub.

"They come because we are an entertainment precinct, very clearly, that is why they stay," he said.

"We would like to be able be see our pubs and clubs open to a reasonable hour so people can take advantage of that and enjoy that, so we'll be supporting maintaining the opening hours but it is simply a matter of seeing what the best outcomes will be for the precinct."

The president of the Licensed Venues Association of Surfers Paradise, David Barnes, agrees.

"I would like the opening hours to stay as they are because of the fact that we are the tourism hub of Australia," he said.

"Everyone in the world knows the word Surfers Paradise, we should be able to trade and we should be able to look after people who come into the area, so I would like them to stay."

Source: ABC News, 5 September 2013