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  • .15 Alcohol Level equals Intoxication

    Under the NSW government proposed new one-punch laws, people with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 will be found “intoxicated” – this is the equivalent of people charged with high-range drink driving offences.

    Under Premier Barry O’Farrell’s Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Assault and Intoxication) Bill 2014, intoxication will be defined as a blood alcohol concentration of .15. The amendment was tabled last week Thursday and is three times the level used to measure low-range drink driving offences (.05). The bill is expected to be passed by the Parliament soon with the support of the Labour opposition.

    According to O’Farrell the bill is intended to bring about safety on the state’s streets with its new measures which are aimed at combating drug and alcohol fuelled violence.

    O’Farrell was quoted as saying about the amendment:

    “The NSW government has heard the community’s call for action. We are committed to continuing to address the drug and alcohol-fuelled attacks on our street and the increase in violence that is used in those attacks.”

    The bill says that there will be a “conclusive presumption of intoxication if the accused has more than .15 concentration of alcohol following a breath or blood sample analysis”.

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/bill-to-combat-brawl-deaths-sets-bloodalcohol-level-at-15-for-intoxication-20140130-31oh9.html#ixzz2slbYAtNA

    The measures do not set any limits for drugs which means that any level of drugs found in a person’s system may indicate intoxication.

    Perhaps one of the more controversial of the government’s alcohol violence measures is the introduction of a minimum mandatory sentence of eight years and a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail for an assault causing death if the assault is committed by an “intoxicated” perpetrator, under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. For those perpetrators who aren’t intoxicated a 20 year maximum penalty will apply for assaulting a person resulting in their death. Also whether the victims die from the injuries received during the assault or hitting the ground etc, the same will apply.

    Alex Wodak, the emeritus consultant for the Alcohol and Drug Service at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney said the 0.15 blood alcohol level was the same level at which drivers are charged with high range drunk driving. The following excerpt is taken from Smh.com.au and quotes Wodak about the new measures:

    “That comes from a huge body of research into blood alcohol and risk of a car crash. But this figure has been plucked out of the air,” Dr Wodak said.

    “There is no research on the link between blood-alcohol concentration and violence.

    “Some will be unconscious at this blood level and most will be very drunk.

    “But some drinking, say, three bottles of wine per day might be little affected by it.”

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/bill-to-combat-brawl-deaths-sets-bloodalcohol-level-at-15-for-intoxication-20140130-31oh9.html#ixzz2slbYAtNA

    According to Dr Wodak, the risk of these new laws is that some people have higher alcohol tolerance levels than others and these people may be found guilty when they are innocent. Dr Wodak said that high blood alcohol concentration levels aren’t always linked to violent crimes.

    According to the proposed law a breath test must be taken within 2 hours of the alleged offence and blood and urine samples can only be required within 4 hours after the alleged offence.

  • Revisiting the Benefits of Moderate Drinking

    An article on Abc.net.au recently discussed the benefits of drinking alcohol in moderation, something that we have always advocated. While it’s true that excessive alcohol consumption can be extremely detrimental to your health both in the short and long term, moderate and responsible consumption can be good for your health and wellbeing.

    With a lot of people vilifying alcohol in the media these days because of a few who cannot control their drinking and go out and cause a menace, it is important that we know what the limits are and adhere to them, not only for our wellbeing but also for the safety of others.

    So what level of regular drinking is agreed to be harmful to our health?

    According to Australian guidelines, adults shouldn’t drink more than 2 standard drinks a day because this poses an “unacceptable” risk of lifetime harm.  According to an alcohol researcher, Professor Chikritzhs from the University of WA, these are some of the effects those who abuse alcohol have to look forward to,

    “For example, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, alcohol dependence and a range of cancers, including breast cancer, are all longer-term consequences of regular ongoing exposure to alcohol,” says Chikritzhs.

    Sticking to fewer than two standard drinks a day means your risk of such nasties over your lifetime is below one in 100.

    “One in 100 was selected because that’s the kind of benchmark by which we test water quality and other kinds of things. People often see that as an acceptable level of risk.”

    It’s drinking levels below two standard drinks a day where any protective effect against heart disease, diabetes and strokes come in (for those who believe it exists).

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2014/02/20/3948645.htm

    Some of the ways that alcohol is thought to impact the body in this positive way includes boosting levels of “good” fats in the blood, increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin and decreasing inflammation.

    Although Chikritzhs says that if your do not drink, you do not need to start drinking just so that you will live longer. For example if you suffer from heart disease and you’re a non-drinker, starting to drink alcohol won’t help you cure your heart problems.  Read more from Professor Chikritzhs http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2014/02/20/3948645.htm

    Some of the Benefits

    Research also shows that moderate consumption of alcohol can reduce the chance of having a stroke. For women who drank moderately research shows they are at a lower risk of developing high blood pressure.

    Experts have long advocated the consumption of beer and wine in moderation to enhance the flow of blood through the arteries and blood vessels and help reduce chances of a heart attack. An alcohol drinker will therefore be able to handle physical activities without the risk of sudden death even if there are blockages in certain parts of the cardiovascular system. Amazingly alcohol also discourages the development of gallstones. This is because the presence of alcohol in a person’s body reduces the tendency of cholesterol to accumulate in the bile.

    But just as beneficial as drinking in moderation can be, drinking in excess and binge drinking can have the adverse effect and be extremely dangerous to your health as well as place you in immediate danger. Stick to the rule of no more than 2 drinks a day and avoid drinking on a daily basis to protect your health and stay safe.

  • NSW Government Releases Fact Sheet for Licensees

    The New South Wales Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) recently released a fact sheet for liquor licensees detailing the reforms which were passed by Parliament last week Friday. The changes were implemented so swiftly in a large part due to the mounting pressure the government was receiving from the public to act to reduce violence in Sydney’s night life districts.

    The Liquor Amendment Bill 2014 was passed by the NSW Parliament last week amidst strong opposition from licensees and the legal fraternity. The amended laws will introduce a host of measures that are aimed at improving safety in Sydney’s entertainment district by tackling alcohol and drug fuelled violence.

    Although the government has been criticised for moving so swiftly in implementing the new measures, the OLGR said “preparation and consultation is underway to ensure its effective implementation” to allow the industry enough time to adjust the way it does business to incorporate the new measures and establish appropriate changes to its practices and procedures.

    The most notable changes that will apply once the legislation commences includes:

    No take-away liquor after 10pm anywhere in NSW;

    Suspension of the trial of online RSA training;

    The creation of a new Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct;

    “Lock-outs” at 1.30am and “Last drinks” at 3am for some venues in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct and the Kings Cross Precinct;

    A freeze on new liquor licences in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct;

    Temporary and Long-term banning order provisions in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct; and

    Suspension or revocation of an RSA competency card or disqualification of a person from holding an RSA competency card, for staff in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct.

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2014/02/03/article/NSW-liquor-laws-Fact-sheet-for-licensees/EQXWLIBZWY.html

    The strict new measures targeting drug and alcohol fuelled violence will officially begin on February 24th 2014 – giving licensees little time to adapt, many of which say their business will suffer severe negative financial implications which may not allow their businesses to survive. Others welcomed the new measures which they believed would help attract the right customers and keep the wrong element out of their venues.

    Some of the other measures to implemented include an annual risk-based licensing fee scheme for liquor licenses and additional special licence conditions on venues in the district as determined as the article on TheShout.com.au goes on to explain

    Development of a plan of management for the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct, which will impose additional special licence conditions on venues in the Precinct

    An annual risk-based licensing fee scheme for liquor licences.

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2014/02/03/article/NSW-liquor-laws-Fact-sheet-for-licensees/EQXWLIBZWY.html

    The OLGR said it will continue to notify affected liquor licensees and other key stakeholders of developments, including the commencement date of each of the reforms.

    In the meantime night time revellers can expect 1.30am alcohol lockouts and 3am last drinks while the whole of NSW will have a ban on takeaway alcohol after 10pm as of the 24th of this month.

  • US President Barack Obama claims Alcohol more Dangerous than Marijuana

    The legalisation of marijuana is a hot topic in many parts of the world and especially in the US, after the US president made a statement that alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana. Colorado and Washington have legalised the sale of marijuana for recreational use and some having been calling for a similar amendment to Australian laws so that marijuana rather than alcohol becomes the drug of choice in popular night spots. People claim that while alcohol abuse makes drinkers violent marijuana doesn’t which may help combat alcohol violence in city hotspots.

    In a recent magazine interview, President Barack Obama stated the following:

     “As has been well documented, I smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not very different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life.”

    “I don’t think it is more dangerous than alcohol,” he said.

    When asked whether it was less dangerous, Mr Obama said that it was less dangerous in terms of its impact on the individual consumer. “It’s not something I encourage, and I’ve told my daughters I think it’s a bad idea, a waste of time, not very healthy,” he said.

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-10/barack-obama-marijuana-alcohol-claim-unsubstantiated/5243462

    According to the experts Obama’s claims that marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol is unfounded. There simply isn’t any evidence to support the claim.

    The article on Abc.net.au looked into and examined these claims and whether there was any fact behind them. They found that these claims were unsubstantiated.

    The article’s writers recognised that health risks were associated with both substances increase with quantity and frequency of use and in the case of marijuana use, the age of first use also affects people’s health.

    The short term health effects of too much alcohol include headaches, lack of coordination, shakiness, nausea, vomiting and passing out. In the long term alcohol abuse can lead to brain damage, heart and liver disease, pancreatitis, mouth, neck and throat cancers and a compromised immune system. Long term alcohol use can lead to dependence, with severe withdrawal symptoms.

    Whereas with alcohol one can control the amount they consume and therefore the severity of its effect on their health, marijuana use, even mild use has been linked to an increased heart rate, low blood pressure and anxiety. Like alcohol, marijuana is not a harmless drug as people mistakenly think.

    In the long run the use of marijuana can affect the user’s brain and lung function, hormone levels, immune system and mental health. The article on Abc.net.au explains:

    “Cannabis use is associated with psychotic symptoms, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression,” according to a discussion paper released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The paper also notes that “long-term heavy cannabis users… show impairments in memory and attention that endure beyond the period of intoxication and worsen with increasing years of regular cannabis use.”

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-10/barack-obama-marijuana-alcohol-claim-unsubstantiated/5243462

    Doctors say that in people who are predisposed to certain types of mental illness, marijuana use may actually worsen the conditions, especially conditions like schizophrenia.So contrary to the claims made by the US president, marijuana is not less harmful than alcohol.

     

  • Young Women Warned to avoid developing Alcoholic Liver Disease

    According to Australian specialists young women between the ages of 20 and 29 are increasingly being treated for advanced liver disease as a result of steady and dangerous drinking since their teenage years.

    Doctors have warned that even professional women are becoming the victims of liver disease and having to be hospitalised for alcoholic cirrhosis.

    According to figures obtained from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the number of hospital admissions from alcoholic liver disease almost doubled in the 15 years to 2009. The number increased from 2976 to almost 6000 during this time period.

    The following excerpt from an article which appeared on Smh.com.au explains further:

    ”We are used to alcoholic liver disease in middle-aged men but scarily we are seeing a significant number of women in their 20s and 30s in this situation,” Simone Strasser, a liver specialist and spokeswoman for the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, said.

    ”These are young professional women aged 25 to 35 who are functioning in other areas of their lives but are drinking at consistently risky levels,” Associate Professor Strasser said. ”They have busy lifestyles and think it’s not doing them any harm.”

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/alcoholic-liver-disease-on-the-increase-in-young-women-20140210-32cs7.html#ixzz2ttYJCGUT

    The post went on to quote an addiction medicine professor, Paul Haber from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital who said that the increase in alcoholic liver disease, both early and late stage was evidence that young people, particularly women are extending their “adolescent lifestyles” into their twenties. He went on to state:

    ”It’s an urban disease and a disease of affluence,” said Professor Haber, who is leading a clinical trial of the muscle-relaxing drug baclofen to treat alcoholic liver disease. ”Young people have more money and are less encumbered than they were 30 years ago.”

    http://www.smh.com.au/national/alcoholic-liver-disease-on-the-increase-in-young-women-20140210-32cs7.html#ixzz2ttYJCGUT

    Women seem to be especially susceptible to the toxic effects of alcohol because of their weight which is generally lower than their male counterparts and also because they have fewer enzymes to break down alcohol when compared to men.

    One of the trial’s co-researchers Kirsten Morley also said that women in their thirties were becoming susceptible to the disease particularly those who work in high volume, fast paced, traditionally “male” environments where in the past drinking on a daily basis is the norm. Morley went on to explain:

    ”Women often get caught up in what is socially acceptable. They might be drinking to help anxiety or as a social lubricant.

    ”Because people have the perception this is something that happens to old men, there is a stigma attached, which has prevented patients from seeking treatment.”

    http://www.smh.com.au/national/alcoholic-liver-disease-on-the-increase-in-young-women-20140210-32cs7.html#ixzz2ttYJCGUT

    According to Morley most people she saw during the trial consumed at least 6 standard drinks a day, with 4 or more being classified as “heavy” drinking. These people had generally engaged in this drinking behaviour for more than 10 years, making them susceptible to the disease.

    This is yet another reason why Responsible Service of Alcohol is an important requirement for anyone who works in the hospitality industry serving alcohol at a licenced venue. When serving alcohol, RSA staff such as waitrons, bartenders etc. should keep in mind the consequences associated with excessive consumption and consider the role they play in ensuring people do not abuse alcohol.

     

  • Police Warn Residents that Sly Grogging will not be Tolerated

    Police in Woorabinda, the Aboriginal community west of Gladstone and Rockhampton have warned that bringing alcohol into the community will not be tolerated. The process is known as “sly grogging” and is responsible for alcohol fuelled violence and other social problems stemming from alcohol in the community.

    Police have issued a reminder to residents of the area that this practice of “sly grogging” will not be tolerated.

    According to Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Kris Richards in an article on GladstoneObserver.com.au the police have seized a large amount of alcohol after intercepting vehicles in and around Woorabinda recently.

    The post on www.GladstoneObserver.com.au goes on to explain:

    “Since an alcohol management plan was implemented in our community in 2008, we have continued to step up our efforts to reduce alcohol-related incidents in Woorabinda,” he said.

    “People being found in possession of alcohol in the community continues to be of concern, and we have responded to a number of incidents recently in which people have allegedly purchased liquor in other towns and have brought them into Woorabinda.

    “Sadly, these people are taking advantage of the community. We believe they are selling banned alcohol at inflated prices, and encouraging binge drinking which has a profound negative impact on our area – including violent incidents, assaults and other anti-social behaviour.”

    Source: http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/police-issue-sly-grog-warning-after-incidents/2051718/

    According to Sen. Sgt. Richards Woorabinda Police will be practicing a zero tolerance approach to sly grogging and will be taking action against anyone who brings or plans to bring alcohol into the community.

    Roads around the area will be patrolled regularly and police will be visiting all licensed premises within a 200km radius of the town.

    Sen. Sgt Richards also explained that police are relying on support and assistance of the public to ensure that the community is kept safe.

    The post goes on to explain:

    Sen Sgt Richards said Woorabinda Police had a zero tolerance approach to sly grogging.

    “We will not hesitate to take action against anyone planning to bring alcohol into our community or who is found to be in possession of alcohol,” he said.

    “Our proactive approach means we will continue to patrol all access roads leading to Woorabinda and will continue to work with all licensed premises within a 200 kilometre radius of our town.

    “We value our partnership with the Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council and appreciate the support of the Mayor as we continue to roll out enforcement action.”

    Community awareness and assistance from the public is a vital part of ensuring the Woorabinda Police are able to keep the community safe, Sen Sgt Richards said.

    Source: http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/police-issue-sly-grog-warning-after-incidents/2051718/

    The article goes on to urge anybody with information about any person committing alcohol-related offences in Woorabinda to contact police on 4913 2333 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

     

     

  • Neknomination Extreme Measures

    Some people are taking the Neknominations to the extreme, even coming up with a way of turning it into something positive whereas others are just using it to get publicity and promote irresponsible behaviour as one British student recently proved.

    The video below shows the British student Rebecca Dagley stripping down to lingerie in a grocery store. The young woman walks in wearing just high heels and a trench coat, then removes the coat, strips down to lingerie and downs a can of lager as her friends look on and cheer.

    Rebecca Dagley’s video went viral proving that it doesn’t take much to get the attention of the online masses. The 19 year old student is filmed entering a supermarket in central England wearing a trench coat and high heels. As she reaches one aisle, she strips to reveal she is just wearing stockings, suspenders and purple lingerie and begins to drink a can of lager. The video was filmed by her friends and she is encouraged by them as other shocked shoppers observe. Her friends shout “Go on Becca! That’s it girl”.

    After drinking, as is the custom with the Neknominations, she tells three friends to take the challenge.

    Neknominations have swept the online world having originated in Oz. It involves someone downing a drink in an extreme manner and then nominating others to do something similar within 24 hours. It has been criticised for promoting irresponsible, binge drinking. The craze has even been linked to the deaths of 2 young men in Ireland where it has also become popular.

    Alcohol campaigners are afraid that people will try to outdo each other and come up with more crazy and extreme drinking acts which could be dangerous. An example is a man who drank a cocktail of cider, eggs, battery fluid and 3 goldfish.

    Watch the video here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XzdykwAEkk0

     

  • Warning not to Drink Excessively

    Many people associate the holidays with drinking and doing so in excess but it is also the time of year when the most road accidents, violent assaults and alcohol related hospital admissions take place so drinkers need to drink responsibly and moderately to avoid becoming another statistic.

    Now as the festive season is in full swing, there has been a call from Tasmania’s Alcohol and Drug Service Clinical Director, Dr Adrian Reynolds to rethink the advertising of alcohol. He says that hospital staff and families are the ones who suffer and are left picking up the pieces when people’s excessive drinking leads to serious injuries.

    The doctor also stated:

    “Advertising and promotion is of concern,” Dr Reynolds said.

    “I think we need to do something about that and we do have evidence of other things to reduce access, reducing closing times for example.”

    Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-22/the-cost-of-excessive-festive-cheer/5171382

    Dr Reynolds has urged the community to think about what is shaping this dangerous drinking behaviour.

    Sadly the doctor is not alone in his concern as doctors around the country have warned that beds are being taken up by alcohol patients which is disrupting the treatment of other patients with “real” medical issues.

    In Victoria around 30,000 people are hospitalised a year due to alcohol and related implications. According to data compiled by the organisation Turning Point, most of those hospitalised are due to excessive alcohol consumption. It seems as though the number of people being hospitalised each year because of alcohol is growing steadily.

    This issue has reminded me about the importance of Responsible Service of Alcohol because so many of these alcohol fuelled incidents causing people to be admitted into hospital are due to people going out to entertainment districts and getting drunk. As RSA staff we should never be turning a blind eye to the implications of our actions.

    Not only is getting unduly intoxicated a risk to the public but the intoxicated person themselves are more at risk of becoming the victim of a violent attack, as statistics have proven.

    Licensees are the ones most responsible for the behaviour that happens in their venues and their first priority is to ensure that everyone employed to work in the venue, regardless of position are in possession of an RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) certificate. Management, security staff, waitrons, bartenders and anyone working at the venue must complete RSA training and keep their proof of doing so on the premises.

    But completing the course is only one part of it, management and staff of licensed venues must ensure that they are enforcing the principles taught by the RSA training, particularly those pertaining to underage drinkers and unduly intoxicated patrons.

     

     

  • National Research Shows Aussies want Alcohol out of Sport

    According to a national research study released by The Salvation Army recently, most Australians want alcohol out of sporting events. In other words most Aussies would prefer not to see alcohol advertising during sporting events but would rather have it phased out of sport completely.

    The Salvation Army commissioned the Roy Morgan run survey of 1001 Australians which revealed that almost all believe that alcohol and sport are too closely linked in Oz at the moment.

    The research was commissioned as part of Alcohol Awareness Week in November. The Salvation Army sees harmful affects of alcohol on the community through their counselling services and programs and according to them this survey proves that the community shares the same concerns.

    Illwarra sporting, academics and charity representatives have welcomed the research findings that prove that at least 67 per cent of those surveyed felt that alcohol advertising needed to be phased out like tobacco advertising was in the past.

    The following excerpt from TheHerald.com.au explains further:

    Sixty-seven per cent of those surveyed felt that, just like tobacco advertising was phased out, it was time to phase out alcohol sponsorship of sport.

    And 70 per cent of people said that the amount of alcohol advertising people under 25 saw encouraged them to drink more.

    University of Wollongong academic Professor Sandra Jones said the findings of the national survey mirrored that of research undertaken by the university, and other institutions.

    ‘‘We know from good solid evidence from longitudinal studies over a number of years that the more young people are exposed to alcohol advertising, the earlier they start drinking, the more they drink and the more alcohol-related harm they experience,’’ Prof Jones said.

    ‘‘Having so much alcohol advertising during televised sport is a big contributor to young people taking up drinking and drinking at harmful levels in Australia.’’

    Source: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1853637/aussies-want-alcohol-ads-out-of-sport-study/?cs=2452

    The post goes on to express the view of Professor Jones, The director of the Centre for Health Initiatives who believes that alcohol advertising is not restricted to television, with the promotion brands, liquor outlets and clubs occuring through sports sponsorship as well.

    She explained that alcohol is being too closely associated with alcohol which is sending a clear message to young people that drinking and sport do go together. It is implied that if you watch sports, you drink alcohol and if you participate in sports you will drink alcohol and that if you are a sporting fanatic, your will drink alcohol.

    She says that as tobacco advertising in sport was banned sending the message that tobacco and sports do not go hand in hand, the banning of alcohol advertising and promotion in sport should have a similar effect.

    The post then went on to quote the chairman of Football South Coast, Eddy de Gabriele who was also pleased with the research findings,

    Football South Coast chairman Eddy de Gabriele also welcomed the survey.

    ‘‘Why is it that tobacco advertising was banned, but not alcohol – they are both drugs,’’ he said.

    ‘‘It’s a good thing to follow sport, but if it’s tied in with alcohol advertising, then it sends the wrong message that drinking alcohol must be a good thing too.

    ‘‘We have got 18,000 players from five years old all the way up to our league teams, and we needed to send a consistent message to our players of all ages that we don’t promote alcohol or smoking through sponsorship of any kind.’’

    Source: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1853637/aussies-want-alcohol-ads-out-of-sport-study/?cs=2452

     

     

     

     

  • Booze Cruise Staff to Complete Responsible Service of Alcohol Training

    Staff on booze cruises are no different than those employed in pubs and bars and so aren’t exempt from Responsible Service of Alcohol rules, however senior police officials in NSW say these party boats on Sydney Harbour are operating as “pubs without rules”. Police say these party boats should be held to the same liquor laws and regulations as other licensed venues.

    Some of the boats operating on Sydney harbour carry up to 900 people and the manner in which some of them serve alcohol is becoming a problem to police in the area. According to one police officer, the boats get people intoxicated by serving them multiple shots and then “dump them” at wharves where they become a problem to local police with their menacing behaviour.

    The police officer was quoted as saying,

     “They can be a nightmare,’’ one senior police officer said. “Many go out for four and five hours at a time where people drink non-stop and then (they) turf them out at Darling Harbour and Circular Quay and then it’s our problem.’’

    Read more at: http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/harbour-party-fun-boats-face-new-controls/story-fnii5s3x-1226821950057

    This article highlights an important issue – the need for Responsible Service of Alcohol training.

    RSA training applies not only to the employees of pubs, clubs and bars but also to those working on booze cruise party boats. Each boat’s employees must have a responsible service of alcohol certificate according to the law and although they currently are some slipping under the radar because of little policing on boats, authorities are likely to begin cracking down on these vessels as their fight against alcohol fuelled violence grows stronger, one officer suggests scanning customers getting on boats.

    Although most operators are abiding by RSA rules, there are some that are getting away with irresponsible practices, the following excerpt from the post on News.com.au explains:

    Most boats dock between 10pm and midnight but operators admit there are rogues in the business.

    “We have security guys on our vessels but there are a few operators out there who cater to the backpacker market and give a $50 all-you-can-drink package,’’ one employee of a well-known harbour vessel company said.

    “They are pretty much no-holds-barred and they don’t care what goes on.’’

    Read more at: http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/harbour-party-fun-boats-face-new-controls/story-fnii5s3x-1226821950057

    It is likely that as government cracks down on alcohol fuelled violence in entertainment districts, party boats will also come under the spotlight.

    With the measures announced by government last week, included 3am last drinks calls and 1:30am lockouts, greater regulation of party boats were also announced.

    The following is a quote from a licensee who runs a harbour cruise and said that boats were safer than pubs and clubs,

     “We’re very wary we don’t want a volatile situation on a boat so it’s pretty much a code within the charter boat industry that we take exceptional control in alcohol usage,” he said.

    “I’m not interested in making an extra five, 10, 20 bucks out of a person when they’re going to create havoc and start spewing all over the boat and there’s no area to kick them off.”

    Read more at: http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/harbour-party-fun-boats-face-new-controls/story-fnii5s3x-1226821950057

    If you or your venue is not complying with RSA laws it is vital that you do so before the government’s scrutiny of party boats hea