POLICE TOUGH ON Y2K BOOZE AND LOUTS

In a final warning, police said yesterday unruly revellers could spend the
first day of 2000 behind bars. And those found drinking in the streets would
incur $100 fines.

In Ballarat, however, where more than 20,000 people are expected at an
open-air party outside the town hall in Sturt Street, police said they would
show some leniency to people drinking on the street. But the tolerance was
finite, said Sergeant Peter Anderson.

Police also warned that every available booze bus would be in use tonight
after a week in which 43 Victorian drivers had been caught over the
blood-alcohol limit.

The warnings came as hospitals and other emergency services around Victoria
geared up for the state's big night of partying.

The Metropolitan Ambulance Service increased its emergency response capacity
by 44 per cent. This included eight emergency units and seven intensive care
ambulances.

The Alfred Hospital prepared for a possible influx of first-time drug users.

An emergency physician at the Alfred, Dr Alastair Meyer, said an alarming
number of patients had been admitted with drug-related injuries in the past
few weeks.

He said drug-taking often led to accidents caused by impaired judgment.
Side-effects also included dehydration, heart problems and psychotic
episodes.

Dr Meyer said treating overdose victims was often hampered because the
composition of the drugs was unknown. "If they accept a pill or capsule from
someone, they have no idea what it is," he said.