Rounds of drinks, jugs of beer and shots could be banned after 1am as police and Liquor Licensing Victoria trial new measures to fight binge drinking in Melbourne's nightclubs.
The trial will be introduced next week at three late-night venues — Escobar, Ding Dong Lounge and QBH — which will be permitted to serve only one drink at a time to patrons after a designated time.
The initiative is aimed at curbing late-night "shouts" and would enable bar staff to monitor individual alcohol consumption more effectively.
Police licensing inspector Chris Duthie said the trial could be extended to include a ban on the late-night sale of shots such as Jagermeister, and applied to all late-night venues if successful. "The 2am lockout is under review and a couple of these venues are on the edge.
"Unless these premises do more in terms of responsible service of alcohol, then something will be thrust upon them," Inspector Duthie said.
Escobar owner Jonathan Sherrin said the initiative would help improve the industry's image. "This will hopefully show we are doing something positive and trying to improve industry standards," Mr Sherrin said.
Ross Blair-Holt, chief operating officer for the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, the owner of QBH, also supported the trial, after Matthew McEvoy was killed in the Southbank venue last month.
"You won't have people buying drinks for other people. It's only a new idea, but I think it will settle in OK and have the desired result, providing it doesn't drop our revenue to zero," Mr Blair-Holt said.
Liquor Licensing director Sue Maclellan said she backed any plan to reduce intoxication.
The proposal comes as a new report reveals risky drinking among young men and women continues to rise.
Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that 51% of men aged 18 to 24 (up from 49% last year) and 37% of women (up 1%) of the same age are drinking at risky levels.
Melbourne drinker Grant King supported a late night ban on the sale of jugs and shots, but branded any move to stop shouts or rounds of drinks as "unAustralian".
Today, Premier John Brumby and several government ministers along with representatives from Victoria Police, Liquor Licensing Victoria, Melbourne City Council and the nightclub industry will discuss binge drinking and violence at the Safe City Summit.
By Cameron Houston and Jill Stark
Share your thoughts on these restrictions and others like it in your community in TheVine Forums now.