No APPetite for real solutions

FARE Chief Executive, Michael Thorn has taken the Newcastle City Council to task, questioning the Council’s commitment to effectively reducing alcohol-related violence.

In an opinion piece, Inappropriate response to a serious problem, published in the Newcastle Herald on Monday 18 February, Michael Thorn said the Council’s new smart phone app, Newcastle After Dark ‘doesn’t even qualify as a band-aid solution.’

In the article, Mr Thorn mocks the Newcastle After Dark app which, whether by accident or design, helps drunk people find their cars and then points them in the direction of the next bar or pub.

“Ever been so tanked that you can’t find your car; hell, you’re not entirely sure if you came by car or even if you actually own one? Don’t worry. There’s an app for that.

Ever been so drunk that you’re not sure you can find your way to the next pub? Perhaps you’re struggling just finding your way to the nearest exit, or still stuck in the toilets, trying to crack the lock on the toilet stall door? Don’t worry. There’s an app for that.”

Michael Thorn says he fully supports the promotion of personal safety, ‘but seriously questions the ‘smarts’ in a smartphone app that does little more than tell you to ‘stay in the light’, before directing you to the nearest watering hole.

Newcastle community campaigner Tony Brown says FARE has highlighted some shared local community concerns with the Council’s response.

“If Newcastle is serious about continuing to effectively prevent alcohol-related violence then we need to further reduce the dangerous oversupply and availability of alcohol and ensure more effective compliance with RSA legal requirements by the very same liquor representatives supporting the apps.”

It really is that simple.

Newcastle knows that better than all other cities in Australia. Instead, struggling Newcastle Council continues to subsidise the powerful alcohol industry by directing revenue into supposed harm minimisation measures of dubious value when much more effective, cost saving measures are available.

Mr Brown notes that a recent Hunter Health survey revealed around 80% community support for such supply reduction measures and says Newcastle Council must put community input and public interests ahead of alcohol industry representatives.

Mr Thorn further highlighted the apps flaws in the Herald article.

“Chances are, if you’re too drunk to find your car, you’ll probably struggle to operate your smart phone…that is if you haven’t already dropped it in the toilet.”

You can read Michael Thorn’s article in full here.