Research by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research examined the effect of the government’s restrictions on the 48 most violent licensed premises, which began in December 2008.

The conditions included an upper limit of 18 hours for any new licence, a 2am lockout time, plastic cups after midnight, a restriction on the number of drinks bought after midnight and the ending of alcohol service 30 minutes before closing time.

The number of assaults declined at the 48 premises where the restrictions were imposed, but the drop was not restricted to these premises and did not coincide with the implementation of the restrictions, BOSCAR said.

The research found a general decline in the number of assaults at the 100 most violent licensed premises actually began in about March 2008.

“The drop began before the restrictions were imposed and it continued but didn’t accelerate after the restrictions were imposed,” BOSCAR director Don Weatherburn said yesterday.

“So from our point of view some combination of heightened publicity and tougher enforcement action is what’s responsible for the drop in assaults in licensed premises in the top 100.”

However, according to the owner of The Oxford in Bathurst – and president of the Bathurst Liquor Accord – Ash Lyons it has been proactive strategies from business owners which had a greater impact than the state laws.

“We are in the business of making sure people have a safe night out, it doesn’t matter what business you own if someone is assaulted there, you face the full impact of it,” he said.

“Dealing with issues in a proactive way by removing glass after a certain time, curfews and shots is just a common sense approach.”

Mr Lyons added his establishment went even further with safety issues, by banning people who were simply out to cause trouble.

“We have a zero tolerance policy with violence,” he said.

“It is not acceptable to have a few beers and say your not responsible if you cause a problem. Our aim is to remove those people and keep them out.”