The NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) has urged licensed venues to be vigilant after a Port Macquarie nightclub was fined $1100 and named on the Three Strikes public register for allowing intoxication.
Altitude Nightclub was fined and incurred a first “strike” under the NSW Government’s Three Strikes disciplinary scheme after a licensing police check on the evening of Saturday, June 16.
About 10.15pm that night, licensing police attended the venue to conduct an audit and observed an intoxicated man, aged 30-35. The man’s erratic behaviour was apparent to other patrons.
OLGR Director of Compliance Paul Newson said. by law. licensees must prevent the excessive consumption of alcohol on their premises, ensure appropriate responsible service of alcohol practices, and be vigilant in monitoring patron alcohol consumption and behaviour.
“Licensees need to proact-ively assess their venues and implement appropriate measures to manage risks to protect both individuals and the community from the effects of excessive alcohol consumption on their premises,” Mr Newson said.
“This could include improved security arrange-ments, better staff training and monitoring of responsible service of alcohol practices, greater vigilance in the screening of patrons prior to entry, and refusal of alcohol service if patrons are approaching intoxication.
“While most licensees do the right thing, this incident should be a warning that licensed premises need to be vigilant in abiding by responsible service of alcohol requirements.
“The NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing works proactively with licensees and venues that incur strikes to help them reduce the risk of repeat offences and further strikes.”
Under the Three Strikes disciplinary scheme, “strikes” are incurred for a range of serious offences under the Liquor Act when a licensee or approved manager is convicted in court; pays a penalty notice to the State Debt Recovery Office; or is issued with an enforcement order by the State Debt Recovery Office for failing to pay a penalty notice. A first strike is automatically incurred upon conviction or payment of a penalty notice for a single offence and is active for three years from the date of the offence. A second and third strike can be incurred upon conviction or payment of a penalty notice for further offences committed within three years.
A third strike can result in the imposition of licence conditions, licence suspension for up to 12 months, licence cancellation and a moratorium on a new liquor licence being granted for the same business operators at the venue for up to 12 months, and/or disqualification of a licensee for any period of time.
For registered clubs, a third strike can result in imposition of licence conditions, dis-qualification of a club secretary, dismissal of any or all of the club directors, and/or the appointment of an administrator to manage the club.
Twenty NSW licensed venues have now incurred a first strike, with the public register of strikes available for viewing on the OLGR website at http://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_3_strikes_register.asp
