Fines and Warnings for Liquor Licensees

Reports have emerged of liquor licensing enforcement activity in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria in the lead up to the busy summer trading period.

In October, the licensee and bar attendant of a restaurant in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley were found guilty of allowing liquor to be consumed by unduly intoxicated patrons, Queensland’s Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) has revealed.

“The staff had previously completed RSA courses and both owners of the venue held current RSA and responsible management of licensed venue (RMLV) certificates, but the licensee had no ongoing RSA training or procedures in place,” the regulator said.

The licensee company was convicted and fined $12,000, while the employee was fined $600.

“Please be vigilant when dealing with unduly intoxicated patrons and ensure you exercise your right and responsibility to refuse service,” Queensland OLGR Executive Director Mike Sarquis told licensees.

In NSW, the organisers of Oktoberfest in the Gardens are facing enforcement action after the state’s OLGR detected heavily intoxicated patrons and observed multiple violent and anti-social incidents at the October 31 event.

OLGR reported an assault on a security guard, an assault on two OLGR inspectors by patrons and a further assault on a police officer.

Non-compliance issues also included no identifiable RSA marshals as required under the licence for the event. Further RSA failings included “patrons seen skolling beer in front of security guards prior to entering beer lines to purchase further drinks with no intervention”.

“This is a timely reminder that event organisers need to ensure they pre-engage with OLGR and Police when planning significant public events involving alcohol,” said NSW OLGR Director of Compliance and Enforcement Anthony Keon.

“They must ensure adequate security and alcohol management plans and controls are in place and are maintained during events to prevent intoxication and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour including violence.”

In Victoria, compliance inspectors issued 1,291 warning letters under the Liquor Control Reform Act during 2014-15, the state’s liquor regulator has revealed.

A total of 273 infringement notices were issued over the year, according to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation’s Annual Report, tabled in Parliament this month.

In 2014, more than 86 per cent of liquor licensees with a ‘four star rating’ received a five per cent discount on their 2015 annual liquor licence renewal fees, the report says.

Fifty licences did not receive the discount because of non-compliance incidents.

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