Western Australia Surf Lifesaving Australia President Mark Irwin has urged beachgoers to go easy on the alcohol this Australia Day, as police continue their crackdown on public drinking.
'We all like a beer, and we all like to have a drink with friends, but I think unfortunately ... our culture has expanded, and people think it's okay to do it everywhere,' Mr Irwin told Sky News.
'Maybe it's time to have a look at it and say 'it's not okay to drink out there because problems occur when that happens.'
Earlier this month, WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan confirmed authorities had applied for the power to seize unopened alcohol from revellers in a bid to reduce reduce alcohol-fuelled violence on Australia Day.
The new measures will stop short of a 'zero-tolerance' approach, with police having the option of issuing a caution or a $200 fine.
Mr Irwin says an increased police presence on WA's beaches is the right course of action.
'There's a real culture amongst Australians at the moment that it's okay to drink out in public, and it's okay to have a beer down the beach on a Sunday if the sun is out,' he says.
'The problem with that is alcohol and swimming just don't mix.'
Mr Irwin added there had been some instances where crowd behaviour had impacted on WA Surf Lifesaving Australia's efforts to properly patrol beaches.
'Our patrol members can be as young as 13 and 14,' he says.
'And there were instances where they were trying to do real rescues on a big day at Scarborough Beach, and the young girls were getting the rescue tubes grabbed by drunken larrikins in the surf break zone.
'They were getting held onto. They were actually getting dragged under.
'So, there is a real risk to our lifesavers when that sort of behaviour occurs.'
Issued by Bigpond news 21st January 2010
http://bigpondnews.com/articles/AustraliaDay2010/2010/01/21/Booze_surf_dont_mix_this_Australia_Day_419734.html
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