QHA_March 2018_Electronic_s

OLGR
with Michael Sarquis
DRINK SPIKING
QHA REVIEW | 30
FOLLOWING A REQUEST FROM LICENSEES,
WE’VE PRODUCED A NEW DRINK SPIKING POSTER
TO EDUCATE PATRONS ABOUT THE WARNING SIGNS
AND HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
You can download the new sign ‘Drink spiking don’t
let it happen to you’ from the Queensland Government
publications portal at www.publications.qld.gov.au.
BRISBANE PROSECUTION
A Sunnybank karaoke restaurant licensee has been
convicted and fined for a second time, for multiple
offences under the Liquor Act 1992.
On 6 February 2018, the Holland Park Magistrates
Court convicted the restaurant licensee company on
11 charges under the Act and fined them $40,000.
This second conviction and fine serves as a timely
reminder to all licensees that we have zero tolerance
for this type of behaviour.
The magistrate commented during sentencing that
the licensee had shown blatant disregard for their
responsibilities under the Liquor Act and made no
improvements after multiple warnings, infringements
and a previous conviction and fine of $15,000 early
last year.
Investigations by our compliance officers revealed the
licensee and venue management to have jeopardised
the safety of their patrons and staff between August
and October 2017.
The significant breaches of the Act included:
• CCTV signage not displayed and CCTV equipment
not maintained
• failing to ensure that the crowd controller
maintained order in and around the licenced
premises
• approved manager provided misleading
documents to investigators
• four employees involved in the service or supply of
alcohol did not have current Responsible Service of
Alcohol certificates for several months
• on multiple occasions, the venue manager allowed
alcohol to be consumed by a person who showed
clear signs of undue intoxication
• staff sold alcohol to patrons when the restaurant’s
liquor license was suspended
• failing to provide and maintain a safe environment
in and around the venue including patrons rapidly
consuming alcohol, alcohol consumption without
adequate supervision, staff and patrons smoking
indoors, putting out cigarettes on the floor and
flicking them across the room, an extremely violent
and uncontrolled brawl and a patron passed out
for a significant period of time without any medical
assistance or checks.
EASTER AND ANZAC DAY TRADING HOURS
Be sure to familiarise yourself with the upcoming
Good Friday and Anzac Day trading hours by visiting
‘Trading hours for liquor licensees’ at www.business.
qld.gov.au/liquor-gaming.
You may receive a visit from one of our compliance
officers, who will be out and about over these periods.
Remember, trading hours on your licence don’t apply
to special days, such as Good Friday and Anzac Day.
If you have entered into a written agreement with an
RSL or services club to sell alcohol at your licensed
venue during an Anzac Day event held on behalf of
their club (such as a dawn service), you will need to
apply for an extended trading hours permit at least
21 days prior.
Applications received by OLGR less than 21 days prior
may not be processed so get in quick! To learn more
about extended trading hours permits, visit ‘Permanent
(ongoing) and temporary (one-off) extended trading
hours’ at www.business.qld.gov.au/liquor-gaming.