This week the New South Wales Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) has once again enforced a mandatory closure on Sydney’s Imperial Hotel in Erskinville.

This is the second time the venue has been shut down in a little over a month as a result of serious ongoing licence breaches.

The hotel was ordered to close from 7pm on Friday 24 July until this past Monday after inspections during the past two weeks detected ongoing drug dealing and illicit drug use, multiple intoxicated patrons, and staff serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons.

The short-term closure order by the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority followed an application by OLGR. Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice and Police Troy Grant said licensed venues doing the wrong thing will have the book thrown at them.

“Operating a licensed venue in NSW is a privilege, not a right, and those abusing it will face the consequences,” Mr. Grant said. “I make no apologies for this Government taking strong and necessary action to protect the community, which we are doing on several fronts, including lockout laws and three strikes. Liquor laws in NSW have never been stronger.’’

The second closure of the Imperial Hotel follows a number of serious actions taken by the NSW Government this year to combat licensed venues openly flouting the law. These include closing the Royal Hotel in Temora for 28 days after alcohol was served to a minor – the first 28-day closure in NSW – and banning two former Kings Cross bar operators from holding liquor licences for life – also a first for NSW.