By Andy Young
A restaurant in Lidcombe has become the fourth venue to have its liquor licence suspended under new laws that were introduced last December.
The Palbok BBQ Pty Ltd, trading as Palbok House, has been fined $2200 and had its liquor licence suspended for 21 days after police found a group of minors drinking alcohol in an outdoor area.
After suspending the licence the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) reminded licence holders of the importance of checking ID to prevent serving alcohol to minors.
Anthony Keon, OLGR's director of compliance, said: "Holding a liquor licence carries a high level of responsibility especially in relation to preventing the sale and supply of alcohol to minors under 18.
"Preventing the sale of alcohol to minors is easily achieved by requiring customers to produce a valid evidence of age document prior to being served.
“Licensees and managers of licensed venues must take all reasonable steps to ensure there are controls in place to minimise and prevent the sale of alcohol to minors – or they will face serious consequences."
OLGR has now suspended the liquor licence of Palbok House from 10am yesterday until 10.30pm on Wednesday 16 December 2015.
The escalated sanctions scheme introduced last December means that licensees can have their liquor licences suspended for up to 28 days for convictions of serving alcohol to minors.
In June the Royal Hotel in Temora became the first venue to face a suspension under the scheme,followed by the Liquor Stax bottle shop at Terrigal in September and the Liquorland bottle shop at the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction in October.