Wanted: 'Drunk' actors to fight drink-fuelled violence at Oz nightspots

Melbourne, July 12 : Actors Down Under may soon have a new goal to accomplish - they would be employed to play drunks in a bid to catch hold of nightspots that serve booze to people who're already smashed, advises a mayoral candidate.

Greens member Adam Bandt says the scheme would see alcohol-fuelled violence plummet.

Bandt - who hopes to become Melbourne's lord mayor in November - said it would cost taxpayers only about 150,000 dollars, but would reap huge rewards.

He labelled the Victorian Government's 2am lockout a failure and said his policy would be more effective.

Under the policy, an actor or actors would enter a venue with an undercover licensing inspector.

If they were served alcohol while behaving as drunks, the inspector would return the next day and warn the licensee.

If the licensee broke the law again they would receive a fine, with the possibility of the venue being shut down.

"Council should be putting money into enforcing existing laws, including employing actors," News.com.au quoted Bandt, as saying.

"Melbourne City Council has an accord with the State Government so we want to amend that to include this policy and we would stump up the money for it," he added.

ANI