‘Closing clubs’ not the answer to HIV, violence'

Closing nightclubs early could contribute to increased HIV transmission and violence by pushing some people towards unmonitored drinking and risky behaviour.

This is according to former Nadi Nightclub Operators Association president Roneel Sami, who was responding to claims that the increase in HIV cases in Fiji was partly driven by social gatherings in nightclubs, where intoxicated people could later engage in risky behaviour.

Mr Sami said people could engage in risky behaviour outside licensed venues, including in isolated areas where there was little or no monitoring.

“People can share needles and have unprotected sex in a cassava patch but not in bars,” Mr Sami said.

He said the rise in HIV cases should not be directly attributed to nightclubs or the social interactions that take place in them.

Mr Sami argued that alcohol abuse was more closely linked to the problem, particularly alcohol purchased from retail outlets and black markets.

“Not from nightclubs but retail shops and black markets,” he said.

Some have called on the Government to close nightclubs, claiming they contribute to criminal activity and the spread of HIV.

However, Mr Sami, who has operated his business in Martintar, Nadi, for 17 years, said he had witnessed the consequences of early nightclub closures firsthand.

He said that over the past four years, since nightclubs began closing at 1am, there had been a significant increase in people drinking on streets, in public places and on beaches.

“In Martintar, people start drinking and urinating outside shops from 6pm, in broad daylight,” he said.

Mr Sami also referred to the recent death of a father in Sigatoka, who was allegedly assaulted by another father and son who had been drinking during the day.

He said closing nightclubs at 1am pushed some people onto the streets and towards black-market alcohol, where there was little monitoring or regulation.

“No monitoring and no restrictions. Closing clubs will just increase the cases of HIV and violence,” he said.

Mr Sami said the Government should instead consider reducing the hours during which alcohol could be sold at retail outlets and enforce laws against public drinking and drunken loitering.

“People are still out on the streets drunk at 6am, with the clubs closing at 1am,” he said.

“The Government has no idea what they are doing. They are making Fiji the way the world should not be, drunk, dirty and disorderly.”

Mr Sami added that nightclubs that failed to comply with standard operating procedures should not be allowed to operate, stressing the importance of responsible management and enforcement of regulations.