A Queensland karaoke bar licensee has been fined $20,000 for multiple offences under the Liquor Act.
On Thursday, January 16, 2020, Ausin International Group Pty Ltd, trading as Wynners Karaoke Lounge in Macgregor, pleaded guilty to 10 offences committed between October 2018 and April 2019.
The bar was caught allowing its patrons to smoke inside, free-pour their own spirits, play drinking games, and become so drunk they needed to be carried outside.
According to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation’s tendered facts, CCTV captured “patrons within the karaoke rooms… free-pouring spirits straight from the bottle into jugs and mixing it with fruit juice, or pouring spirits freely into shot glasses”.
On two occasions, patrons swigged straight from spirit bottles.
Patrons were sometimes given entire 700ml spirit bottles with no “sufficient measures” to monitor the consumption of these.
Drinking game played by patrons in the karaoke rooms involved dice, where the loser would “rapidly consume liquor”.
Each karaoke room was fitted out with a special apparatuses for the playing of these games, or it was made available to patrons, according to the OLGR facts.
OLGR Executive Director Mike Sarquis, said the list of charges displayed a lack of care for patrons and a disregard for the law.
“Our investigators inspected the premises multiple times during the investigation and found that Wynners Karaoke Lounge continued to breach the Liquor Act 1992,” Sarquis said.
The offences included: supplying liquor to a person who was showing very clear signs of undue intoxication and other unacceptable liquor service practices; failing to provide a safe environment and preserve amenity; allowing liquor to be consumed on the licensed premises at an unauthorised time, and failing to comply with conditions of a licence.
Sarquis said the offences put the safety of patrons and staff at risk.
“The offences are significant – I’m pleased with the outcome of the hearing and look forward to seeing the licensee making important changes to their business operations,” he said.
“These laws are in place to minimise the risk of alcohol-related harm for members of the public and the community, but it’s disappointing that some choose not to follow the law.
“Licensees have an obligation to adhere to liquor regulations, and it’s their responsibility to ensure the safety of their patrons.”
