The Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing (OLGR) has announced plans to conduct more inspections of licensed venues across the Snowy Mountains region for remainder of winter ski season. The increased presence follows after OLGR’s first phase of compliance checks detected a range of serious breaches.

Licensed venues across the Snowy region have been cautioned after 12 breaches relating to intoxication and non-compliance with licence conditions were uncovered during inspections in Jindabyne, Perisher and Thredbo between 14 and 19 July.

OLGR Director of Compliance and Enforcement Anthony Keon said the results showed a lax attitude by many venues in assessing intoxicated patrons and that too many staff and security were unaware of their venue’s licence conditions.

“Intoxicated patrons must be cut off and removed from the venue when detected – this is the law and every Snowy venue needs to follow it or face serious penalties,” Keon warned.

“Intoxication in licensed venues is against the law because it leads to potentially serious consequences, including increased risks of alcohol-related violence as well as other harms. Statistics show that assault rates in the Snowy region increase markedly during the winter ski season – which is exactly what we are trying to prevent.

“It is extremely disappointing that, despite OLGR engaging with Snowy licensees prior to this compliance operation and forewarning them about requirements, breaches and poor controls were still detected across a range of venues.”

Results found that many venue staff did not understand their licence conditions and were subsequently breaching them, most relating to security patrol requirements.

OLGR will continue inquiries into offending venues prior to regulatory action being undertaken, and compliance inspections will now be conducted throughout the entire winter season.

Venue inspections will focus on patron behaviour and intoxication levels, compliance with licence conditions, responsible service of alcohol (RSA) and responsible conduct of gambling (RCG) staff accreditation, undesirable liquor promotions and activities, and prevention of alcohol sales to minors.

Intoxication was a particular problem in Jindabyne where inspections found security and staff often failing to properly assess intoxication levels. One Jindabyne security guard advised she was instructed not to remove intoxicated patrons until advised by bar staff.

Four intoxication-related offences were detected at two separate venues in Jindabyne alone. One venue permitted intoxication twice in three days, which could result in two strikes under the Three Strikes disciplinary scheme.

At one Jindabyne venue, inspectors observed an intoxicated person being threatened to be ‘cut off’ by venue staff and provided water, but two minutes later was served a Jägerbomb shot.

Across Thredbo numerous breaches of venue licence conditions were detected relating to security patrol requirements and maintenance of incident registers.

In addition to drinking offenses, drugs were suspected of being taken in the female bathroom at one venue, and an intoxicated woman was observed vomiting by an OLGR inspector.