Alcohol Response Taskforce expands
A special taskforce that has slashed alcohol-related assaults along the NSW North Coast will be expanded to the Richmond Local Area Command.
The Richmond Alcohol Response Taskforce was launched yesterday to cut alcohol-related assaults in licensed venues by reducing intoxication levels.
The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing’s Strategic Enforcement Branch has established the taskforce with Richmond LAC police and the Lismore, Ballina and Casino Liquor Accords.
Director of Liquor and Gaming Albert Gardner said extra enforcement and education resources would be deployed to the Lismore, Ballina and Richmond Valley council areas including:
Intensive case management of high-risk licensed venues;
Covert operations by liquor inspectors and police at licensed venues focusing on the busiest nights of the week and special events like concerts, race days and festivals;
Zero tolerance towards drunk patrons refusing to leave venues when asked;
Audits of licensed venues to help licensees strengthen alcohol and security management plans and adopt innovative measures to reduce intoxication;
Responsible Service of Alcohol training workshops for bar, security and door staff; and
A ‘No Excuse’ patron education campaign to promote the State’s fail-to-quit laws.
“There is no doubt that alcohol is contributing to the rate of assaults, offensive behaviour and road accidents in the Richmond LAC,” Mr Gardner said.
“There were 152 assaults on licensed premises in the Lismore, Ballina and Richmond Valley council areas between July 2006 and June 2007.
“The Alcohol Response Taskforce program is already operating in three Local Area Commands on the Mid and Far North Coast with assaults in licensed venues slashed by 29 per cent in Coffs Harbour, 45 per cent in Grafton, 13 per cent in Byron Bay and 11 per cent in Kingscliff.
“The level of intoxication in and around licensed venues is clearly an issue and we see licensees as instrumental in helping us and police to reduce these statistics. We don’t want licensees serving patrons to the point of intoxication and then ejecting them at the first sign of trouble because that’s when they start impacting on the community through noise, assaults and malicious damage.
“While licensees are doing the right thing by ejecting drunk patrons, they should not be serving them to the point of intoxication in the first place.
“This taskforce will develop a partnership between key stakeholders and provide a strategic focus to address intoxication and alcohol-related crime through a range of innovative measures in licensed venues. Taskforce members include pubs, clubs, restaurants, and nightclubs, police from the Richmond LAC, Lismore City Council, Lismore Taxis, Ballina Shire Council, Richmond Valley Council, the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, North Coast Area Health Service, TAFE NSW, and the RTA.”
Richmond LAC Commander Superintendent Bruce Lyons said police and liquor inspectors would be inspecting local licensed venues to ensure the Responsible Service of Alcohol and reduce alcohol-related assaults, malicious damage and street offences.
“We will be targeting intoxication, patron behaviour, secondary supply of alcohol to minors, underage drinking, security licensing and overcrowding,” Superintendent Lyons said.
“Patrons should be aware that licensees have an obligation to ensure the Responsible Service of Alcohol and will refuse entry and service to intoxicated or badly behaved customers.
“Patrons can have a good time without drinking to excess. People who act without regard for their own safety or the safety of others, damage property or behave in an offensive manner will be targeted.”
Mr Gardner said liquor inspectors and police would also stage Responsible Service of Alcohol, Security and ID Checking Workshops for licensees and their bar and security staff at Lismore, Ballina (today) and Casino (tomorrow).
“These workshops provide practical advice to bar and security staff to help them identify a patron at risk of becoming intoxicated, use early intervention measures to prevent patrons from becoming drunk, learn how to spot a fake or altered ID and improve communication skills to avoid potential disputes,” Mr Gardner said.
“In addition local pubs and clubs will benefit from audits this week where senior compliance officers and licensees discuss risks and assess the venue to see what they can do better. We then help them to introduce new measures to improve Responsible Service of Alcohol and security practices.”
