Consumer and Business Services
Intoxication Guidelines Summary for bar staff
Guidelines for bar staff and others supplying liquor for sale Remember the law • It is against the law for you to supply liquor to an intoxicated person. • Intoxication is defined under the Liquor Licensing Act 1997 to include consumption of liquor or some other substance (including over the counter medications). • It is your responsibility to ensure you do not supply liquor to an intoxicated person. It is an offence for a patron to buy or supply liquor to another person who is intoxicated. This offence
• You must have ‘reasonable grounds’ for your belief that a person is intoxicated. It is alright if you refuse service to a person on the basis of this belief – even if you are wrong.
Form ‘reasonable grounds’ to determine that a person is intoxicated • Make yourself familiar with the signs of intoxication. • Use the signs of intoxication provided in the
extends to the licensee, the responsible person
‘Intoxication Guidelines’ developed by Consumer
for the licensed premises and the person who
and Business Services to help determine if
sells or supplies the liquor.
someone is intoxicated.
• You are also able to remove from the premises
• Avoid discrimination by considering and ruling
both the intoxicated person and the person who
out any other conditions or reasons that may
supplied them with liquor.
cause a person to display symptoms similar to
• You must therefore be aware of patrons who may be buying liquor for someone else who is intoxicated. • There are severe penalties for supplying liquor to an intoxicated person: aximum penalty M First offence $20,000 Second or subsequent offence $40,000.
those of intoxication.