QLD Venues Start ID Scanning

After months of talk and lead up its finally here – mandatory ID scanners in the 15 Safe Night Precincts (SNP’s) of Queensland. You might recall this was the trade off by the state government to not proceed with the 1am lockout.

How ID Scanning At Licensed Venues Works

How the ID scanning works, is that all people (not just the younger looking ones) will have their ID scanned and captured by the venue’s networked scanners.

The scanners record your name, DOB and cross check it against a broader database. If you’ve been banned by another place, the courts, or the police, you will be refused entry to the venue and the system will notify other venues in the SNP (Safe Night Precinct).

In concept, this is good and generally venues are behind the idea of a system to keep out the less savoury customers who have a history of causing problems and potential violence in Queensland venues.

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The Issue With ID Scanning For Smaller Venues

However, the problem that has arisen is that there are many smaller, low risk type venues, that have no history of alcohol related violence. These have now been caught up in the web of having to have the scanner system, because they operate after midnight.

What we are talking about here is the small, ‘hole in the wall’ type bars which can really add to the atmosphere of places like the Valley, in Brisbane.

Now with the mandatory system, if they are going to stay open past 12 they need to have the scanner system operating from 10pm that night – and here’s the clincher… it must be operated by a registered security guard, therefore adding a significant expense to the daily labour cost.

Early Impacts of Compulsory Scanning

Already a number of these types of venues have declared that they will simply close at midnight on early week nights, impacting business and jobs for the industry.

Hopefully, the government can see the teething issues that have arisen with the broader introduction of the system, and some concessions may be granted for the lower risk licence types.