By James Atkinson
A Victorian bar operator has been fined $10,000 and banned from serving drinks in glassware after repeated incidents of drunkenness and violence on the premises.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) heard that between December 2009 and January 2012, drunken patrons were detected on ten occasions on the premises or in the vicinity of the Eureka Sportz Saloon Bar in Geelong.
On multiple occasions drunken males who had earlier been evicted from the premises fought outside, and on two occasions patrons suffered glassing injuries to the head.
The VCGLR also heard that on two occasions the bar had conducted events that encouraged irresponsible consumption of liquor and risky drinking.
Geelong Police liquor licensing inspector, Carl Peers sought an order disqualifying the pub's operators from holding a liquor licence or BYO permit.
But in a ruling handed down in recent weeks, VCGLR accepted that the licensees were committed to improving safety and reducing the instances of drunkenness at the Eureka.
"[The Commission] is satisfied that the condition imposing three additional crowd controllers dedicated to monitoring the responsible service of alcohol is a positive step," said Deputy Chairperson Gail Owen.
"Further the Commission considers that the imposition of a condition to exclude glass at the Eureka will minimise the harm caused by any glass injuries."
The Commission also ordered the Eureka Sportz Saloon Bar to pay a $10,000 fine.