Posted on August 8th, 2011 by sbawa

Following on from the previous Snapshot, Amendments to the Liquor Control Regulations: making it easier to drink?, the new exemptions regarding live entertainment venues and small charter vehicles are now addressed. Possibly in order to address businesses, such as The Jazz Cellar in Mount Hawthorn, which have been operating without a liquor licence, the Regulations [...]

Posted on July 29th, 2011 by sbawa

Very recent amendments to the Liquor Control Regulations exempt a number of circumstances from the application of the Liquor Control Act 1988.  Although the amendments appear to amount to concessions and a step in the direction of deregulation, those persons who believe they are affected, who seek to sell, supply or consume liquor where no [...]

Posted on July 7th, 2011 by sbawa

The recent report produced by the Education and Health Standing Committee chaired by Dr J.M. Woollard MLA ‘…discusses proposals, some similar to those introduced 300 years ago, to combat the current excessive consumption of alcohol in Western Australia.’  The report is titled Alcohol: Reducing the Harm and Curbing the Culture of Excess. Should many of [...]

Posted on June 23rd, 2011 by sbawa

Increasingly the licensing authority is imposing unique conditions or restrictions on the grant of new licences.  The conditions are tailored to ensure licensees conduct their businesses strictly in the manner portrayed in their application documents.  Examples of some of these customised conditions recently applied to tavern licences include: limiting the number of persons allowed on [...]

Posted on June 9th, 2011 by sbawa

Our 25 March 2011 Snapshot focused on the findings of the Auditor General’s Report into the implementation of the Liquor Control Act. This Snapshot follows on from that earlier publication and examines the recommendations made by the Office of the Auditor General as a result of its investigations into the liquor industry. The Report largely [...]

Posted on May 26th, 2011 by sbawa

Without the prior approval of the Director of Liquor Licensing, licensees commit an offence if they: enter into a partnership with another person in relation to the business carried on under the licence; enter into any agreement or arrangement under which another person may participate in the proceeds of the business carried on under the [...]

Posted on May 12th, 2011 by sbawa

Restaurant pays $15,000 penalty for failing to properly indicate menu prices A prominent New South Wales restaurant recently agreed to pay a $15,000 penalty after a customer complained to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding the way prices were listed on its menu.  Whilst the maximum fine applicable to licensees under the Liquor [...]

Posted on May 10th, 2011 by sbawa

Licensee reminder The licensing authority’s transition toward unrestricted and restricted manager classifications took another step forward yesterday.  The Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor website was updated to allow approved managers to log on and commence the process of being issued with an ID card.  Managers can now begin the application process by going to [...]

Posted on April 28th, 2011 by sbawa

Liquor licensing: Around the nation It is helpful to monitor changes in liquor licensing laws and policies outside of Western Australia as they occur around the rest of the country because they can potentially be adopted to some extent in this State. In Queensland a classification system has been introduced by which licensed premises with [...]

Posted on April 14th, 2011 by sbawa

Impending changes to the approved manager system An approved manager must be present on licensed premises during trading hours.  Every approved manager must have completed a course of training approved by the Director of Liquor Licensing.  Currently, managers are only authorised to manage specified premises.  An application must be made if that person wishes to [...]