Local pubs vetting IDs during Melbourne lockdown

PUBS and restaurants across the Geelong region are keeping an eye out for non-local customers as they follow the state government’s latest changes to its coronavirus restrictions.
Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire returned to stage 3 restrictions on July 9, with residents only allowed to leave home for necessarily goods and services, work, medical care or exercise for six weeks.
Geelong and the rest of regional Victoria are continuing as before, but there is an “obligation on businesses outside of metropolitan Melbourne to check identification as part of records requirement and refuse service to those who reside in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire LGA”.
The Taylor Group owns the Torquay Hotel, Grovedale Hotel and Barwon Heads Hotel, and general manager Joel Taylor said most of the patrons who sought to enter his pubs since July 9 were following the rules.
“A lot of people are fine with it, it’s only been the minority that aren’t.
“We’ve had a couple of customers who got abusive, and it just makes it really difficult for the staff. A couple of those and it can leave a really sour taste in your mouth.”
He said Thursday and Friday last week were the most difficult days, but this could be explained by people not being aware of the changes.
“On Saturday and Sunday, people were a bit more understanding.”
Jan Juc’s The Beach Hotel began enforcing a “no ID, no entry” policy for all customers on July 9, and explained why in a post on its Facebook page.
“If you are from a currently locked-down suburb, please don’t come in as we will have to refuse you entry.
“We are working our hardest to keep our staff and customers safe and this is just the next step. We all need to work together.”
There have been anecdotal reports of Melburnians fleeing the city for a six-week stay in their holiday houses in towns such as Torquay and Lorne, and police have been setting up roadblocks in various locations across the Geelong region over the past week to check licences.
“We are locking down our highways and using technology to ensure our community stays safe,” Sergeant Lee Kendrick said.
“The road block is part of an ongoing Surf Coast operation ensuring strict COVID compliance in combination with road safety enforcement.
“This effort compliments our tasking in and around our towns, car parks and
accommodation venues.
“People need to understand that we are deadly serious about community safety – there are no compromises.”