Last year the NSW Police Association released an alarming five-minute CCTV compilation depicting a number of violent late-night brawls and sickening, bloody bashings.
The images were shocking and caused consternation.
But what made the footage even more difficult to watch was the fact those horrifying scenes were captured in our own backyard, on the streets of Wollongong.
It is perhaps fitting, then, that the city has been included in a national study investigating whether popular drinking practices could lead to an increased likelihood of alcohol-fuelled violence and bad behaviour.
Pre-drinking, illicit drug use and even the mixing of energy drinks with alcohol are all under the spotlight.
University of Wollongong researchers are venturing into the city’s nightspots over the coming weeks, with the permission of licensees, to speak candidly with revellers about their drinking habits.
The data collected may in future be used by police, policy makers and venue operators to inform prevention and enforcement campaigns.
There are no quick fixes for ending drunken violence. But if knowledge is power, this study must surely be a step in the right direction.
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