A Newcastle pub’s previous licence holder was given a two-year suspension from holding a liquor licence after serving an inebriated customer the equivalent of almost 35 standard drinks.
Liquor and Gaming NSW discovered that on March 6, 2021, a patron of the Gladstone Hotel in Stockton was supplied one shot and twenty-two schooners of beer over the course of six and a half hours.
The man lost consciousness and needed to be helped out of the venue.
Executive director of Liquor and Gaming NSW Jane Lin stated that there was a significant danger of injury to a guest due to the actions of the hotel’s bar personnel.
“It was caused by the licensee’s failure to ensure that the responsible service of alcohol was practised at the hotel and that appropriate practices, procedures, training and supervision were in place to prevent intoxication,” Lin stated.
“In addition to breaching the law, the hotel staff’s actions endangered the guest’s safety. “As this case shows, venues that fail to abide by responsible service of alcohol requirements can expect to be caught and face significant consequences.”
The male customer “exhibited signs of intoxication,” including stumbling, wobbling, and falling over, according to CCTV footage that ILGA reviewed.
According to the video, the man drank 23 alcoholic drinks between around 11.50 a.m. and 5.25 p.m. After looking into the occurrence, NSW Police came to the conclusion that the patron had a medical condition and had not been drunk before collapsing.
The ruling from yesterday prohibits the former licensee, Tracey Keegan, from possessing a liquor licence or being close associates of a licensee of a venue for a period of two years.
Since the incident, the venue’s liquor permit has been transferred to a new licensee.
Following continuous complaints and investigations regarding noise, alcoholism, and antisocial behaviour at the pub, Liquor and Gaming NSW also placed conditions on the hotel’s liquor licence, including a CCTV and management plan.
