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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Australian fans face booze limit | Australian fans face booze limit |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Australian police are gearing up for an annual crackdown on motor-racing fans - limiting race-goers to 24 cans of beer a day. | Australian police are gearing up for an annual crackdown on motor-racing fans - limiting race-goers to 24 cans of beer a day. |
| Spectators at the Bathurst 1000 - a three-day race meeting staged this week - will be told to stick to just the one "slab" of beer while at the racetrack. | Spectators at the Bathurst 1000 - a three-day race meeting staged this week - will be told to stick to just the one "slab" of beer while at the racetrack. |
| Wine-drinkers must also show restraint, facing a four litres per day limit. | Wine-drinkers must also show restraint, facing a four litres per day limit. |
| Police hope the limits will prevent the famous New South Wales race being blighted by alcohol-related violence. | Police hope the limits will prevent the famous New South Wales race being blighted by alcohol-related violence. |
| Known as "The Great Race", the Bathurst 1000 is a 1,000km (621 mile) event, the highlight of the three-day meeting held annually in the town of the same name. | |
| Boasting a long, proud history, the race - seen as the most prestigious motor event in Australia - is currently contested by teams of drivers racing powerful touring cars equipped with V8 engines. | Boasting a long, proud history, the race - seen as the most prestigious motor event in Australia - is currently contested by teams of drivers racing powerful touring cars equipped with V8 engines. |
| The "one-slab" limit was first imposed in 2007, with police insisting drunken hooligans were tarnishing the reputation of the race and causing disruption in town. | The "one-slab" limit was first imposed in 2007, with police insisting drunken hooligans were tarnishing the reputation of the race and causing disruption in town. |
| Those choosing to drink lower-strength beer will be allowed to bring in 36 cans, police said. | Those choosing to drink lower-strength beer will be allowed to bring in 36 cans, police said. |
| Pilgrimage | Pilgrimage |
| The limits - and a tougher police presence around the racetrack - were greeted with dismay by some race-goers when they were first introduced. | The limits - and a tougher police presence around the racetrack - were greeted with dismay by some race-goers when they were first introduced. |
| Many fans making the annual pilgrimage continue to feel they should be able to drink as much as they like while watching the race. | Many fans making the annual pilgrimage continue to feel they should be able to drink as much as they like while watching the race. |
| But police insist the limits are necessary. Alcohol has been blamed for violence elsewhere in Australia, with drink seen as a factor in sparking race-related riots in Sydney in 2005. | But police insist the limits are necessary. Alcohol has been blamed for violence elsewhere in Australia, with drink seen as a factor in sparking race-related riots in Sydney in 2005. |
| Race-related violence in Sydney in 2005 was part-blamed on alcohol | Race-related violence in Sydney in 2005 was part-blamed on alcohol |
| "This is one of the greatest motorsport events in Australia and for some it is a pilgrimage that they make every year," Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke said. | "This is one of the greatest motorsport events in Australia and for some it is a pilgrimage that they make every year," Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke said. |
| "Police respect people's rights to enjoy the race weekend, but will promptly act when the law is broken. | "Police respect people's rights to enjoy the race weekend, but will promptly act when the law is broken. |
| "Every year thousands of race fans attend and enjoy the event and police will not allow their safety to be compromised by a drunken few. | "Every year thousands of race fans attend and enjoy the event and police will not allow their safety to be compromised by a drunken few. |
| "As such we will once again be focusing on alcohol-related behaviour," he said. | "As such we will once again be focusing on alcohol-related behaviour," he said. |