Need for Responsible Alcohol Service

Fear that new licensed venues may contribute to the increase in alcohol fuelled crime has resulted in the rejection of a liquor licence for Griffith’s proposed BWS store. The Woolworths owned business has been denied a liquor licence to operate in the area because the community is concerned that another licenced venue will result in an increase in the crime already plaguing the area.

The community of Griffiths apparently has a high rate of domestic violence which research has linked to alcohol. The number of liquor outlets in the area is thought to be contributing directly to these.

The main issue affecting the area seems to be the large number of alcohol abuse cases that bring with them devastating side effects that have an impact on the community.

This issue highlights the need for responsible alcohol service in communities across Oz. Although it is the law and is meant to decrease the amount of alcohol fuelled violence and crimes we see, the large number of incidents indicates that there are venues and alcohol servers that are not doing their legal duties when serving alcohol to their patrons.

Bartenders, bouncers, alcohol shop attendants and shop keepers and anyone who sells or serves alcohol to the public is required by law to undergo responsible service of alcohol training. Part of this training involves learning who not to serve alcohol to, including unduly intoxicated patrons and how to recognise these people.

Either the alcohol service industry is not undergoing this mandatory training or they are not implementing what they have learnt. Either way they are legally responsible for the repercussions of their actions. Should servers ignore the warning signs that a person is unduly intoxicated and serve them more alcohol, that patron could resort to alcohol fuelled violence or other irresponsible behaviour, for which the server will be held partly responsible.

Brawls, assaults, robberies and other violent crimes are being committed by customers who are over intoxicated. Unduly intoxicated patrons have also been identified as a contributor to the drink driving crashes we see on our roads because drunk drivers have the false confidence to drive while drunk, endangering not only their own lives but the lives of other innocent road users in the process.

Recognising the signs of intoxication is central to an alcohol servers job and they should be on lookout for signs of intoxication (As well as other things such as legal drinking age) when serving alcohol to customers.

Luckily, intoxication presents itself in a number of visible ways and most people, even those not trained in Responsible Service of Alcohol, can recognise the most common signs. These includes slurred speech, swaying and bumping into things, inability to walk, rowdiness, anger, aggression even violence.  In a crowded and noisy bar, however, these could be difficult to notice. Servers should also keep an eye out for previously timid patrons who become aggressive or vice versa, a social person who becomes withdrawn or a quiet person who becomes overtly friendly.