Two Sydney premises suspended for serving liquor to minors
The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) has ordered the Camden Hotel and Liquorland Bondi to close their doors temporarily following breaches of the NSW Government’s Minors Sanctions Scheme.
The Camden Hotel will shut for two days this week, following an incident late last year that saw door security fail to recognise the fake ID being used by three teenagers, aged 16 and 17.
The teens were served up to 20 beers over 4.5 hours and not asked for ID again at any stage, while one also played a gaming machine. When they left the hotel they became involved in a brawl after which they were arrested.
“The sale of alcohol to minors greatly increases the risk of alcohol-related harm occurring, due to a minor’s inherent vulnerability and lack of both physical and psychological maturity – and in this case it resulted in three minors being involved in the brawl,” said Liquor & Gaming NSW director of compliance operations, Sean Goodchild.
ILGA has also proposed to impose extra conditions on the Hotel’s licence, including the requirement to submit a plan of management, extra responsible service of alcohol training for all staff, and specific requirements for keeping CCTV footage.
Liquorland Bondi Junction has also been hit with a 10 day suspension after being caught serving alcohol to minors early in 2018 for the second time.
Police observed a 16-year-old boy leave the shopping centre with a six-pack of beer he had just bought from Liquorland, without being asked for identification.
The 19-year-old employee at the premises claimed he thought the 16-year-old looked over the age of 25, and was subsequently fired.
Sheridan Randall, 15th January 2019
