Bay pubs react to fee hike

Stamford Grand managing director Graeme Goldberg said the fee was the State Government's
latest "money grab'' from the hotel industry. Picture: Nicholas Wrankmore

The Glenelg Pier Hotel will close earlier on Saturday nights to avoid paying new State Government liquor licensing fees.Under changes to take force on June 29, hotels which open past 2am and with a capacity of more than 200 will be charged $5000 on top of the standard $700 fee.

Another $5000 will be charged for venues which open after 4am.

Pier operations manager Andrew Rohde said the hotel would close at 2am instead of 2.30am on Saturdays to avoid the fee.

''It's a substantial jump,'' he said.

''I know it's going to hurt a lot of places (around Adelaide) that won't be able to stay open late.''

Mr Rohde did not expect any backlash from patrons about the earlier closing time.

Stamford Grand managing director Graeme Goldberg said his hotel would reluctantly pay an extra $5000 to remain open until 3am on Friday and Saturday.

He said the fee hike was the government's latest ''money grab'' from the hotel industry.

''We need that like a hole in the head,'' he said.

''Any time they need a few bucks they come and knock on our door first.''

Coastal pubs including the Watermark, Dublin, Jetty, Holdfast, Broadway, Esplanade, Brighton Metro and Seacliff Beach hotels do not trade past 2am and so are not affected.

Australian Hotels Association state general manager Ian Horne said if business owners were not trading as late as their licence allowed them, they should look at changing the conditions to avoid the fees.

Mr Horne said the fees were ''nothing but a revenue generator'' for the State Government.

Business Services and Consumers Minister John Rau said the fee was introduced so licence holders would contribute to the ongoing costs of liquor licensing compliance and regulation.

Source: Guardian Messenger, 8 June 2012