KEITH T. DENNETT | New South | CONTACT
A hometown pub has announced new rules for silly season, in an effort to stem the spike in violence on Christmas Eve.
Posting a brief status on their local business Facebook page, The Lakes Gate Hotel in South Betoota has made a public announcement that no biffing will be tolerated after 11pm.
Speaking to long-time publican Dennis Dwyer, the move comes as the hotel hopes to avoid the arrival of any ambulances this Christmas.
“Come December, every ex-townie rolls back into Betoota for the family festivities and our pub is the place to spend Christmas eve,” said Dwyer.
“It’s an unwritten law for everyone from the city to turn up at our pub, catch up with old school friends and get blind while Santa delivers presents round town.”
“Course it doesn’t take long for a few old high school enemies to butt heads and the first punch is thrown about 9pm, once the biff tap turns on you can’t turn it off and we usually have 12 brawls by midnight.”
Fed up of spending the early hours of Christmas Day hosing blood off the footpath, Mr Dwyer had vowed this year will be different.
Working with local police and a collection of nearby businesses including McDoners, the late night kebab shop next door, Mr Dwyer has enacted a strict ‘11pm Biff Ban’’ on the main street of South Betoota.
The Advocate understands the Lakes Gate also plans to stop serving rum after sunset.
“Mate I’ve got little ones to think of, I can’t be giving statements to the police at 2am on Christmas.”
“It’s the first year I get to see all five of my grandchildren wake up on Christmas morning, I ain’t missing that cos a few boofheads from the city want to get on the turps and scrap through til sunrise.”
“If anyone wants to carry on after midnight, they can head to the local oval and biff on the cricket pitch, it’s not happening in my beer garden this year around!”
More to come.
