Responsible service April 2010

The committee made 68 recommendations after receiving many submissions and consulting with a wide range of community, private sector and government groups.

There is no doubt that this is an issue that affects everyone in the community and I am certain that the majority of licensees take their responsibilities seriously.

However, the Bligh government is committed to ensuring that Queenslanders can enjoy a night out without fearing for their safety.

The government will now carefully consider the recommendations contained in the report – working with stakeholders and the community on which recommendations should be adopted.

I urge you all to read the report, which can be found on the Queensland Parliament website, and become involved in the consultation process.

You may have noticed a new name for the newsletter. We thought it was time we shed the acronym and come up with something a little more creative. Of course, if there are any really creative people out there, feel free to email in some alternative suggestions.

March also saw the long awaited release of the final report for the Law, Justice and Safety Committee’s inquiry into alcohol-related violence. There were certainly no surprises, and I suspect there will be many busy months ahead for OLGR.

I’d like to take this opportunity to offer both my praise and thanks to the many liquor accords throughout the state. Lately I’ve heard nothing but excellent news about these voluntary groups and the positive impact they have on communities by reducing alcohol-related harm. While this edition of Responsible Service contains a story on just one of Queensland’s many liquor accords, you can be sure that we are seeing similar success stories right throughout the state.

Let’s all continue the hard work in keeping our communities safe from violence and our roads fatality-free this Easter.

 

• Various changes to late night trading hours
• Phasing out of regular glass in venues trading after midnight other than low risk venues
• Enhancements to Responsible Service of Alcohol training, including RSA Marshalls for late night and large capacity venues
• Development of special entertainment precincts
• ID scanning systems and CCTV inside venues and at entrances for venues trading after midnight
• Greater emphasis on community consultation as part of the licensing process
• More support for Liquor Accords
• Increased penalties for alcohol related offences.

The Law, Justice and Safety Committee recommendations can be viewed at the ‘Queensland Parliament’ website. It must be stressed the report recommendations do not represent government policy. The government will consult widely with industry, the community and other key stakeholders before formulating a response to the report recommendations.

Affected pubs and clubs have a minimum of 21 days from notification to source alternative glass products. The type of glass alternative used is a matter for licensees, but tempered or polycarbonate glassware are the most likely choices.

Eight premises throughout Queensland have been classified as ‘high risk’ where regular glass receptacles, jugs, bottles or stubbies will no longer be available to patrons.

Another 28 have had their license conditions altered and must remove glass products to varying degrees while 32 venues will be requested to supply OLGR with risk assessment management plans.

We wish to stress that while individuals must take responsibility for their own actions, licensees also have a duty at law to maintain acceptable patron safety and harm minimisation practices.

Thursday 1 April	On the Thursday before Good Friday, licensed premises are only permitted to serve alcohol until midnight, even if they normally stay open longer. While the bar must finish serving at this time, patrons have until 12.30 am to finish drinks and leave the premises. Gaming machines are not permitted to operate after midnight.
Friday 2 April	On Good Friday, licensed premises can open from 10 am. However, alcohol can only be served with a meal prepared on the premises and eaten in an area of the premises ordinarily set aside for dining. Patrons can consume alcohol for one hour before dining, while they are dining and up to one hour after dining. Gaming machines are not permitted to operate at all on Good Friday.
3-5 April	Usual liquor and gaming trading hours can resume on Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Saturday    24 April	All licensed premises are only permitted to trade until midnight on the Saturday before Anzac Day, even if they normally stay open longer. While service from the bar must finish at midnight, patrons will have until 12.30 am to finish drinks and leave the premises. Gaming machines are not permitted to operate after midnight.
Sunday 25 April	Gaming machines are not permitted to operate between midnight Saturday 24 April and 1 pm on Anzac Day, Sunday 25 April 2010. Liquor trading restrictions will apply depending on the classification of the particular licensed premises.

To find out more about the liquor trading restrictions on Anzac Day, go to the ‘Fact Sheets’ section of the OLGR website.

The amendments to the Liquor Act removed control of commercial hotel licences from local governments throughout Queensland.

The Aurukun and Kowanyama councils argued that the amendments to the Act contravened the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 as in practice, they only affected Indigenous communities.

The councils contended that the amendments compromised their resident’s ability to access alcohol and enjoy the same human rights as other people throughout Queensland.

The Court of Appeal recognised that considerable consultation was undertaken by government prior to implementing the amendments and that the rights of drinkers do not outweigh the rights of women and children to be free from alcohol related violence.

The court noted that government’s decision to remove the ability of local councils to acquire commercial hotel licences was based on the inappropriateness of local government social services being reliant on the level of profit from a business whose purpose was to sell alcohol, particularly when alcohol-related harm was driving the need for these services.

All councils across Queensland are equally affected by the amendments and as such they apply equally to all areas throughout Queensland.

The amendments do not preclude a separate group or person other than local councils from applying for or holding a commercial hotel licence within the council’s local government areas.

• BPay payment option – a biller code and customer reference number will be included on your self-assessment form which you will receive in late June 2010
• Credit card payment limit increase – allowable limits for credit card payments has been increased from $10 000 to $40 000
• Simplification of self-assessment form – forms have been simplified with payment criteria not relevant to your licence removed.

Annual liquor licence fees are payable by 2 August 2010. If payment is not received by this date the licence will be automatically suspended under the provisions of the Liquor Act 1992.  All fees are subject to a Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase which is reflected on the self-assessment form.

From 1 October 2010, eligible licensees, gaming nominees and persons carrying out gaming duties (licensed gaming employees) will be required to have a current RSG course certificate.

Reasonable time will be provided after 1 October 2010 to allow for existing eligible licensees and gaming employees to undertake training in RSG.

The approved RSG course is the national hospitality module SITHGAM006a ‘provide responsible gambling services’ incorporating RSG reference material provided by OLGR.

It is also likely other employees who perform ‘gaming tasks’ will be required to have a current RSG course certificate.

A fact sheet on the training requirements will be available on the OLGR website soon.

The Brisbane launch, beginning later this month, will be the first part of a staged roll-out of the new online application process which will eventually be available throughout Queensland.

Unlicensed organisations wishing to sell alcohol on a one-off occasion such as festivals, fetes and sporting events must apply for a community liquor permit, but until now have not been able to do so online.

Due to the high volume of applications the first trial will be held within a limited geographical area. If successful it will be later extended to the rest of Queensland.

After lodging an application, applicants will receive email notification at each point in the review and approval process. Community liquor permits cost $52 per day and applicants will need to lodge permit applications at least 21 days in advance.

The Code of Practice is based on a voluntary, whole-of-industry commitment to gambling best practice and was launched in 2002 with the recognition that it would take time for all industry sectors to implement, and for the effects to flow onto the community.

In recognition of this, a three-stage five year review was undertaken.

The three stages of the review determined:

• effectiveness of implementation (phase 1)
• cultural shift towards establishing responsible gambling as a basic feature of running a gambling business (phase 2)
• sustainability of the Code of Practice in achieving best practice in responsible gambling and contributing to minimising harm from problem gambling (Phase 3).

The final report of this review is available online at www.olgr.qld.gov.au now.

Liquor accords develop voluntary strategies tailored to the local community and lead the way in tackling the abuse and misuse of alcohol.

Among their many initiatives, the accord has lately agreed to the following new strategies:

• No sale of over-proof (OP) rum
• No sale of 1125 ml bottles of spirits
• No external points of sale for take-away alcohol from bowls or golf clubs.

The local liquor accord is also considering further changes to the time and quantity available for take-away alcohol. They plan to meet with major event organisers in the area to discuss strategies that may further improve patron behaviour.  

Queensland liquor accords have been positive and productive initiatives, and Weipa licensees and key stakeholders are to be commended for volunteering their time to improve community safety.

While people do need to take responsibility for their actions, licensees should do everything they can to help patrons stay in control of their alcohol consumption.

Ways to encourage safe drinking at your venue include:

• providing food at the bar
• offering mocktails or other non-alcoholic drinks (Caboolture Liquor Industry Action Group offers free soft drinks to designated drivers)
• using low risk drink promotions such as loyalty  programs
• helping patrons arrange transport home
• declining the service of alcohol to those already intoxicated

We all need to make an effort to ensure the road toll and any alcohol related violence is reduced in this particularly dangerous and high risk period.

There are still plenty of coasters, brochures and table toppers currently available.

To order contact Convenience Advertising on 3800 9661 or complete an order form available on the OLGR website.