Possible NSW Booze Law Changes
In the five-year statutory review of the state’s liquor laws, released on Friday, 91 recommendations were made which included possible changes to NSW alcohol policy. Changes recommended include more power for councils to set venue limits, stronger training for licensees and an independent research program.
Unfortunately the recommendations don’t go far enough to satisfy policy experts. While most of the recommendations were hailed as positive and encouraging, some are calling for more action to be taken to address dangerous promotion of alcohol and sterner crackdowns on trading hours. The NSW Greens as well as The NSW/ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance (NAAPA) weren’t fully satisfied with the recommendations.
The review also recommended risk based licences fees as well as more filed tests proving licensees compliance with Responsible Service of Alcohol regulations.
According to an article on http://au.news.yahoo.com these are some of the other recommendations made by the review:
It also recommends more filed tests to ensure licensees comply with responsible service of alcohol regulations, stronger powers for venues to prohibit re-entry to previously rejected people, creating a director of licensing position within the government and allowing councils to set venue capacity limits and appeal opening hours.
The report further suggests a “one-stop shop” website allowing people to review liquor licence applications and that the density of alcohol selling venues be considered when a new application is made.
Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/20315102/possible-booze-law-changes-a-good-start/
It is interesting to note that Responsible Service of Alcohol compliance is an issue of concern which is why it was included in the recommendations. Despite the surge of alcohol fuelled problems (particularly violence) and the attention being given to the issue by police and authorities there are still licensees failing in their responsible service of alcohol (RSA) duties.
It is important that licensees are aware and compliant of RSA regulations and ensure that their employees are enforcing RSA regulations. It is also vitally important that all employees of licenced venues, regardless of position or rank, complete Responsible Service of alcohol training and are in possession of an RSA certificate.
The article on Yahoo.com went on to discuss the response of some anti-alcohol campaigners to the review and their beliefs about its shortcomings. One of the biggest anti-alcohol groups in Oz, FARE believed that the review failed to address some key issues, as the article explains.
But foundation for alcohol research director Caterina Giorgi said in a joint statement with NAAPA the “lack of action of trading hours is a glaring and baffling omission”.
“The review chair has seen fit to ignore all of the evidence showing that later trading hours result in greater harms,” she said.
Greens MP John Kaye also thought much of the report “made positive recommendations on a number of important weaknesses.”
“However, (the) review ducked the issue of dangerous promotions and failed to increased penalties on licensees whose venues do not reinforce responsible service of alcohol,” he said in a statement.
Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/20315102/possible-booze-law-changes-a-good-start/
