By Belinda Nolan
BRIMBANK’S liquor outlets are behaving badly, with the municipality’s restaurants, clubs and bottle shops caught breaking the law hundreds of times over the past year.
Statistics released to the Star by the Department of Justice revealed almost 300 breaches of liquor licensing laws have been detected within Brimbank’s borders since July last year.
Officers from the Compliance Directorate conducted more than 500 liquor licensing inspections in Brimbank’s licensed venues since commencing operations 15 months ago.
The inspectors identified more than 280 breaches, with some venues discovered breaking multiple laws, while others recording no breaches at all.
The most common breaches found included licensees not displaying licences or permits, or caught without a copy of licensed venue plans.
Officers issued more than 125 warnings and compliance letters and 10 infringements for more serious offences, including the illegal supply of alcohol and repeated rule breaking.
None of the breaches related to the supply of alcohol to a minor.
A spokeswoman for the Compliance Directorate said although most of the breaches were relatively minor, they did suggest many licensees were confused about their most basic obligations under the Liquor Control Reform Act.
She said compliance inspectors would be working closely with Brimbank’s licensed venue operators to ensure possible future breaches were stopped in their tracks.
Possible penalties include the suspension or cancellation of licences and court proceedings.
“We make it clear to the industry how important the responsible service of alcohol is and in turn work towards reducing possible harm and providing a safe night out for all Victorians,” the spokeswoman said.
But Brimbank’s licensed venues weren’t the only rule breakers, with hundreds of their patrons being fined for public drinking over the past three years.
Between May 2007 and May this year police, assisted by council officers, handed out $57,000 worth of fines to people openly flouting the council’s local laws that forbid drinking in public.
Of the 240 fines issued, around 40 were to repeat offenders, with the majority of offences occurring outside bottleshops and supermarket liquor stores in Sunshine and St Albans.
The council’s city development manager Stephen Sully said around 50 cases were referred to court.
“The rules are in accordance with the council’s local law, which the council adopted to control and prevent behaviour which may be offensive, intimidating and inappropriate in a public place, or with may affect the peace and enjoyment of recreational or other activities of others,” Mr Sully said.
