Appalling number of drunks get served in bars

More young people are being asked to leave NSW pubs when they're drunk, figures show, but licensed premises continue to serve an "appalling" number of intoxicated people.

A study by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) has examined what action pubs take when patrons lose co-ordination, slur their speech, stagger and spill drinks.

It found the number of drunks who were refused service rose from 2.2 per cent in 2002 to 7.1 per cent in 2011.

Nearly 13 per cent of very intoxicated patrons were asked to leave the venue, compared with 4.2 per cent in 2006.

NSW hospitality minister George Souris said the figures show the crackdown on problem liquor operators.

However, NSW Greens MP John Kaye says the study shows pubs are still irresponsibly serving alcohol.

"An appalling 92.9 per cent of intoxicated persons were not refused service by the licensed premises (while) a massive 87.6 per cent of those surveyed were not asked to leave the licensed premises despite being very intoxicated," Dr Kaye said in a statement.

He said Premier Barry O'Farrell's announcement on Sunday of a parliamentary inquiry into the supply of alcohol to minors in private homes was an attempt to distract from the issue.

"Going after home consumption by underage drinkers...is the least effective way of addressing alcohol-related violence," Dr Kaye said.

"Rather than risk the ire of the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and Clubs NSW, the O'Farrell government is taking the politically convenient path of targeting private homes."

The AHA says the survey shows that proactive measures by hoteliers are working.

"Incidents of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour on licensed premises are at the lowest levels in a decade," AHA (NSW) chief executive officer Paul Nicolaou said in a statement.

"Hoteliers will continue to work to ensure the message gets across to those few people doing the wrong thing - anti-social behaviour and intoxication will not be tolerated on licensed premises."

BOSCAR surveyed 2503 young adults between February and April 2011.

Source: AAP