ONE-punch killers will face life imprisonment under proposed changes to Queensland laws.

The Newman government’s draft plan to tackle alcohol-related and drug-related violence, released on Sunday, would create an offence - unlawful striking causing death - to deal with one-punch killers.

Courts will also have the right to ban thugs from nightclubs across the state for life while drunken louts will be forced to do community service in areas where they act up or cause damage as part of the Newman Government’s new “Safe Nights Out” alcohol strategy unveiled today.

The Office of Liquor and Gaming will also be overhauled and given greater powers to ensure it is cracking down on rogue venues while pubs and clubs themselves will be subject to tougher licensing conditions under the plan which Premier Campbell Newman says is estimated to cost $20 million a year.

“This punch-drunk culture has to come to an end,” Mr Newman told The Sunday Mail.

“This is a tough new offence. It is a tougher offence than manslaughter because it takes away certain defences that are available under the charge of manslaughter. Because you went out and punched someone in the head, we are saying accident is not going to apply.”

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Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said it was hoped the tough new sentence would act as a deterrent.

“Under our regime, we think they’ll be serving a lot longer, plus ... they will serve a minimum non-parole period,” he said

Under the plan, the maximum penalty for aggravated serious assaults on ambulance officers would rise from seven to 14 years’ imprisonment.

Drunkenness would no longer be a viable excuse to mitigate an offender’s sentence and courts would have the power to ban people from licensed premises for life.

ID would be installed in all licensed venues trading after midnight to keep out problem patrons and banned people.

The government would also set up 15 “safe night precincts’’ across the state where there would be late-night lockouts and more police on the beat.

Police would be given the power to detain people for their own safety if they were unduly intoxicated and at risk of serious harm, or behaving in a potentially violent or antisocial manner.

The government would also introduce a compulsory drinking awareness plan for all students between years 7-12 as part of the school curriculum.

“It’s a draft and it goes out for one month’s consultation,” Mr Newman said.

“We want the community to have a good look at this document ... and then the government will put some final touches to it.”

He said it would be subject to a formal review after 12 months.

“We want to deal with drug and alcohol-fuelled violence, but we want one other very important thing to be underlying all of this, that we want to have a nightlife in Queensland,” Mr Newman said.

“We want to be a place where people can have a great party time. Where they can let their hair down, where they can enjoy themselves.

“What we are saying though is that the community have said enough is enough when it comes to anti-social behaviour and aggressive, violent behaviour.

“What this plan is all about is changing the culture.”

It comes after the Sunday Mail revealed plans to create a new coward’s punch offence which will see thugs who kill a person facing up to life imprisonment. They will also be required to serve 80 per cent of their sentence before being granted bail.

The Sunday Mail also revealed a plan for police to trial the use of drunk tanks or “sober safe centres” where drunks can be locked up for up to eight hours and then required to pay for the privilege.

It will be trialled in Brisbane first before being potentially expanded to other entertainment precincts.

Penalties will also be increased for those who misuse anabolic steroids, putting that use in the same class as dangerous drugs like amphetamines and ecstasy while the definition of “unduly intoxicated” will be broadened to ensure successful action can be taken against licensees who continue to serve patrons who are either intoxicated from too much alcohol or drugs.

Liquor licensing officers will be empowered to conduct covert operations to crack down on pubs and clubs breaking the rules.

Penalties for offences like public nuisance, refusing to leave a venue and obstructing police will also increase.

Public nuisance offences will attract an on-the-spot fine of $660 while those who refuse to leave a venue will be instantly fined $550, up to $5500 or one years’ jail.

Nine more entertainment precincts will also be set across Queensland in centres including Cairns, Airlie Beach, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Toowoomba, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast.

The will be known as safe night precincts.

Not everyone is happy with the draft, however.

The Queensland Coalition for Action on Alcohol (QCAA) said the strategy would not be effective in its current form.

QCAA Chair maxillo-facial surgeon Dr Anthony Lynham accused the government of taking its cues from social media rather than the experts.

He said the QCAA had called on the Government to introduce a 12 month state-wide reduction of trading hours modelled on the successful Newcastle alcohol restrictions and that advice appeared to have been ignored.

Foundation for Alcohol, Research and Education chief executive Michael Thorn described the strategy as a Band-aid solution.

“Currently the taxpayer foots the bill for the significant cost of alcohol on the community. This puts our police, ambulance officers and hospital emergency doctors and nurses repeatedly in the firing line,” Mr Thorn said.