BALLARAT tradies are concerned their annual Christmas break-up has become a boozy battleground for violent drunks.Local carpenter Richard McNiece says a minority have hijacked the traditional end-of-year celebrations and given it the reputation of “fight night” in Ballarat’s central business district.His comments come after a 25-year-old man was rushed to hospital following an assault late Thursday night.The man remains in a serious, but stable condition in Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital. Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said the man was found by paramedics in an unconscious state near Lake Wendouree about 10.15pm.Police are investigating the incident.Mr McNiece, 24, said he couldn’t think of a worse night to go out in Ballarat.“When you hear something called ‘fight night’ it can only mean one thing,” he said.“Definitely stay away I think.”Mr McNiece said the night, which often began with lunchtime work functions, was well known throughout the tradie community.“When you are in those groups – like when I worked with five chippies – it’s all they talk about in that last week (before Christmas),” he said.“It’s a shame. Ninety per cent are fine, but it’s that 10 per cent that ruin it for everybody. That 10 per cent is what is giving that night the reputation of ‘fight night’.”Mr McNiece’s father, Rodney, 62, told The Courier he and his wife were “hassled” by a couple of young adults while walking the CBD on Thursday evening.Ballarat police inspector Bruce Thomas said extra resources were deployed on Thursday – and again last night – with officers making regular visits to clubs and pubs in the CBD to help stamp out any anti-social behaviour.Inspector Thomas said a total of five drunks were arrested on Thursday night.Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union organiser John Parker said he was disappointed to learn of a so-called ‘fight night’.“I’m disappointed to think we’ve got back to that stage. We’ve worked fairly hard to encourage our members and workers to be responsible when it comes to drinking,” he said.Australian Hotels Association Ballarat division president Ian Larkin said the night was traditionally a “difficult one for licensees”.“It’s a 50/50 day. It’s a good day for a lot of people, but then some of them, because it’s once-a-year party-goers, they tend to go over the top a bit. It’s a really hard day for our industry,” he said.“The rules and regulations put on the hotel industry are so strenuous and we abide by the them.”Mr Larkin said employers had a duty of care to their workers not to provide large amounts of alcohol and then send them off into the city.