By Andy Young
A Sydney bottleshop has been fined in excess of $28,000 after being caught selling takeaway alcohol after 10pm.
In new laws introduced last year, all bottleshops in New South Wales are prohibited from selling takeaway alcohol after 10pm.
In February this year the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) carried out a compliance operation at Harbourside Cellars in the Darling Harbour area in Sydney. Covert offices bought alcohol at 10.15pm and then witnessed two customers buying bottles of wine at 10.25pm.
Deputy premier and minister for justice and police Troy Grant said: “This prosecution should serve as a stern warning to other venues. If you ignore the liquor laws you will be caught and penalised.”
Licensee Xia Zhang was prosecuted for selling alcohol after 10pm on five occasions on 24, 30 and 31 January and 4, 6 February 2015 and faced a sixth offence for failing to produce records.
Zhang pleaded guilty to the six offences in the Downing Centre local court and, on 14 September, was convicted by Magistrate Christine Haskett and fined $2,500 for each of the illegal sale offences and $5,500 for failing to produce records.
Zhang was also ordered to pay legal costs of $7,878. The venue will also incur a strike under the Three Strikes disciplinary scheme.