UK Daily Telegraph:
Spectators at Australia's Bathurst 1000 motor-racing festival have been issued with strict limits on alcohol consumption - limiting them to only 24 cans of lager or four litres of wine.
People travelling to the three-day Bathurst 1,000 have been told they can bring just the one "slab" of beer per day.
The New South Wales race – the most important event in the motor racing calendar – is a popular with young people and has been troubled by alcohol-related violence in the past.
The race is 1,000 miles (620 miles) long and contested by powerful touring cars equipped with V8 engines.
Alan Clarke, the assistant police commissioner said: "Police respect people's rights to enjoy the race weekend, but will promptly act when the law is broken.
"Every year thousands of race fans attend and enjoy the event and police will not allow their safety to be compromised by a drunken few.
"As such we will once again be focusing on alcohol-related behaviour."
The only exception to the rule will be for people drinking lower-strength lager who will be allowed to bring in 36 cans per day.
Waaaiiiit - what? Is this rule just for the drivers? No?
What's happening in Australia? In that once-proud country it used to be a legal requirement to drink a case a day at ANY sporting event, party or organised gathering (including university exams). If the general population isn't consuming a case a day, how are we going to produce champions like Rod Marsh (48 cans, Sydney to London) or David Boon (52 cans, Sydney to London)?
No wonderr this "Clarke" is the "assistant" police commissioner. He appears to be some sort of imbecile. How on earth is he going to get quality alcohol related behaviour by limiting it? If there's one thing the NRL learnt this year, it's what happens when you try to limit consumption - everyone goes batshit, assaulting spouses, passers-by, hussies, taxis and hallway carpets.
For those of you about to suggest that this should be a nice event everyone can enjoy, back the pomposity truck up. First off, this isn't the Gold Coast Indy or the Melbourne Grand Prix - this is Bathurst. And the race isn't in the "Golden Mile" shopping district (you know, Big W, ALDI, Mitre 10). It's on a hill in the middle of nowhere. Second, is there any other possible way to watch 3 days of motor racing from poor vantage points in oppressive heat without more than 72 cans of beer?
They just haven't throught this one through.
P.S. One thing I didn't quite follow - what's this "lower-strength lager" thing he mentioned?
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