A signwriter who put up notices saying “Free Alcohol Zone” instead of “Alcohol-Free Zone” on Queensland’s Gold Coast was sacked last night, after Schoolies partying on the holiday strip rioted and demanded free beer.

School-leavers smashed shopfront windows and threw empty bottles at police while singing the anthem of the drunk Australian male, “more beer, more beer, more beer, more beer” to the tune of Auld Lang Syne.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg slammed the riot as “indefensible” but the Schoolies hit back by defending their actions.

“The Government promised to put on, like, cool events for us and then, like, this sign goes up saying ‘free alcohol zone’, so we’re like, that’s awesome, and then they try to, like, take away our free beer,” one of the riot ringleaders said. “What did they expect us to do?”

Mr Beattie said the riot was “unfortunate” but he was just pleased his sons were not involved.

“We’re not going to be looking for any scapegoats over this but the fact is, we’ve sacked the signwriter and nothing like this will ever happen again,” the Premier said.

Despite the riot, Queensland police have hailed this year’s Schoolies as the “best ever”.

“We’ve had a record 154 officers get laid this time around so we’re pretty happy with the week’s festivities,” one senior officer who asked not to be named said.

At the same time, the Government has vowed that it will continue to come up with new silly terms to describe unwanted Schoolies visitors.

Last year, the Government branded older trouble-makers ruining Schoolies festivities ‘Toolies’ and this year it labelled younger school students involved in boozing ‘Pre-Schoolies’.

The Government denied it was running out of attention-diverting rhyming gags.

An insider said that among the favourites for next year were ‘Unrulies’ (a tag developed in the wake of this year’s riot), ‘Cruelies’ (describing Schoolies bullies) and ‘Hooley Dooleys’ (for the growing number of Schoolies involved in the disturbing practice of dressing up in brightly-coloured skivvies and performing songs for primary school children).