A current issue in circulation in the media is the problem of alcohol, the violence associated with it, and the ways of fixing this issue.
there have been two sides to this argument, with the police performing a crackdown over one weekend, with "737 arrest as part of Operation Unite" (SMH, 2010) This operations aims was to crackdown on the alcohol abuse and violence at notorious spots throughout the country, such as Kings Cross and Darling Harbour in the Sydney CBD. This operation gained large amounts of media coverage on the high arrest count it highlights the need for change in alcohol laws. This reactive method of combating the issue is counter with a proactive one seen in a trial in Newcastle, which has reduced pub and club trading hours which in turn "has reduced the number of assaults by a third" (ABC, 2010) with the trial to be expanded to other cities in the near future.
There has been alcohol and violence on Sydney's streets since the first fleet, but recently it has become more newsworthy due to the increased reporting of the incidents, the violence aspect highlighted greatly. This is discussed in Jewkes (2004, pg 53-43) where she describes violence as "it fulfills the media's desire to present dramatic events" and this violent aspect of the problem at the forefront. There is little discussion on the role of the pubs, affects over policing and over use of security on the assaults, the reasons for conflict and also the possible outcomes, apart from one that is being pursued by the government.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/one-dead-737-arrests-in-nsw-alcohol-violence-crackdown-20100912-156fa.html
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/man-dies-during-boozeviolence-crackdown-20100912-156ec.html
http://news.smh.com.au/action/printArticle?id=1898748
http://www.smh.com.au/action/printArticle?id=1954173
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s3014075.htm
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