A Sydney bar that sold drinks marketed as "Moonshine" out of jerry cans and a pub manager who offered to shout the bar if NSW was ahead at half time in State of Origin are among scores of venues statewide that have been caught out during a crackdown on inappropriate and reckless drinking promotions.
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The NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing investigated almost 100 questionable alcohol promotions being run at pubs, nightclubs and other licensed venues. Sixty-six venues had bans or restrictions placed on them after the promotions were deemed to encourage irresponsible, rapid or excessive drinking, were designed to appeal to minors or were indecent or offensive. The office paid particular attention to promotions on venue websites and social media accounts.
Those venues which are found running irresponsible promotions have bans or restrictions placed on them and potential fines of up to $5500.
Among the venues caught out was The Exchange Hotel in Darlinghurst which was banned from serving alcohol in jerry cans branded "Waste God's Own Special Blend Jerry Can Moonshine". The same venue also had restrictions placed on the drinks it could serve out of buckets and jars and allowing patrons to drink from longnecks of beer. The Exchange Hotel was also fined $1800 last month in the Downing Centre Local Court for failing to abide by an Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing direction to label its non-standard drinking "vessels".
A website promotion by the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel that the manager would shout the bar if the Blues were leading at half time during a recent State of Origin clash was also deemed inappropriate. The venue was allowed to run it only if it was limited to one free drink per patron and if free food was provided.
Hospitality Minister Troy Grant said the majority of venues in NSW did the right thing but those who ran inappropriate or reckless promotions encouraging binge drinking would be punished.
“All licensed venues have a responsibility to ensure they comply with the responsible service of alcohol and they owe it to the community to encourage appropriate individual behaviour," Mr Grant said.
Other promotions deemed to be inappropriate in the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing crackdown were:
- A Kogarah venue that promoted an "Easter Karaoke Beer Drinking Competition" for Good Friday that encouraged patrons, via Facebook, to get their "hangovers read! ... and livers prepared".
- A nightclub in Albury that promoted an end-of-semester "frat party" for university students, with a Facebook promotion of: "Who's ready to get DRINK DRANK DRUNK because exams are over".
- An Ashfield bar that provided written instructions to its female staff to make customers "drink more", "alwasy refill cups with alcohol when empty" and have at least one drink with each patron.
- A venue in Campbelltown that prompted $4 schooners of beer until first points were scored during State of Origin.
Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing executive director Paul Newson said the state's liquor laws clearly prohibited pubs and clubs from running such promotions.
“Irresponsible alcohol promotions can increase the risk of intoxication and associated community impacts such as violence, anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood disturbance," Mr Newson said.
He also encouraged the public to report any drinking promotion they deemed inappropriate to his office.
