An elder statesman in The Odin’s Warriors outlaw motorcycle club has been arrested for sly-grogging. The motorcycle club then handed over the remainder of their stash of booze from their Moorooka clubhouse to the government.
The man, Sergeant-at-arms Brian Whowell, 64, received a fine of $3000 for selling alcohol without a licence. He pleaded guilty in the Holland Park Magistrates Court.
A reporter from www.News.com.au had this to say about the incident:
The partially-deaf grandfather-of-three, who was without his hearing aid in court because it was sent away for repair after he stepped on it, took the rap for the sale of beer and spirits at a party at the bikies’ clubhouse on March 15.
Police raided the Unwin St clubhouse where they found a throng of people drinking, a band playing, and drinks on display with a price list.
Whowell was cooperative with police and told them he had the authority to take responsibility for the act, his lawyer Louisa Pink said.
Magistrate Col Strohfeld ordered the alcohol be forfeited to the Crown, and referred Whowell’s fine to the State Penalties Enforcement, “or you can pass the hat around at the next meeting”.
“I think we’ll have to,” Whowell replied.
One of the reasons why sly-grogging is such a serious offence is because of it’s potential to cause damage to the community. The sale and supply of alcohol needs to be strictly regulated and monitored to ensure that it is not being sold in excess. That is one of the responsibilities of a licenced venue, to ensure that alcohol is being sold in a responsible manner that is not damaging to society.
People who sell alcohol illegally are not adhering to the law and certainly are not observing Responsible Service of Alcohol laws. For example one of the rules of responsible service of alcohol is not providing alcohol to any unduly intoxicated patrons – it is highly unlikely that sly-groggers observe these regulations and therefore are causing harm to the individual being excessively served as well as the community.
Servers of alcohol (including waitrons, barmen and security staff of licenced venues) must undergo Responsible Service of alcohol training in order to learn who to serve alcohol and to whom alcohol service should be denied. Training also includes how to enforce RSA laws.
In addition to the harm that serving unduly intoxicated patrons can cause, servers are also making themselves liable to fines if caught by authorities.
Remember servers and managers, as well as owners will be held responsible by authorities for everything that occurs within the walls of their venue. Intoxicated customers are more at risk than sober individuals when returning home as they are more vulnerable to car crashes and attacks. So you have a responsibility to yourself and to your patrons to ensure you act responsibly in your service of alcohol.