KEEPING Mornington’s hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants compliant with the latest rules and regulations governing gaming and liquor sales is the aim of a visit by regulators next week.
Staff from the state’s liquor regulator – the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation – will target the town’s licensed premises on Monday 24 June.
Their aim will not be to check for breaches and issue fines but to educate licensees and help them to remain compliant.
VCGLR manager education programs Veronica Goluza said the VCGLR’s Street Talk program aimed to keep licensees and their staff up to date with gambling and liquor laws.
Ms Goluza said key topics would include ‘Bottomless brunches’ – where patrons often drink too much, too quickly, over a short time frame – as well as an obligation for licences to supply free water and be aware of changes to the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998. She said a key change to the Act last September banned licensees from supplying liquor to minors under any circumstances.
“The VCGLR website has a wealth of information but meeting with licensees to discuss their particular venue and licence conditions … means a more targeted response to local issues,” she said.
“We want to reinforce the good work they’re doing by meeting the liquor licensing laws and rectify any identified issues, encourage compliance and long term behavioural change during the Street Talk education program.”
Details: visit vcglr.vic.gov.au
First published in the Mornington News – 18 June 2019
