By Andy Young
The organiser of the 2015 Oktoberfest has been fined $26,000 after serious breaches of the licence conditions and allowing intoxicated patrons.
Ross Drenan was sentenced earlier this week after pleading guilty to 11 offences relating to the Oktoberfest event that attracted 12,000 patrons at Sydney’s Domain in October 2015.
In a statement about the case, Liquor & Gaming NSW said: “Inspectors who attended the event found intoxicated patrons who were unable to stand unaided, spilling drinks and slurring their speech.
“One intoxicated patron was found clinging to a wheelie bin having urinated in his pants, while another assaulted a police officer after throwing an alcohol-drenched German hat at the officer.
“Other breaches included failing to properly maintain the incident register, not deploying identifiable RSA marshals and failing to provide adequate security of perimeter fences where patrons were seen urinating and lying down appearing to fall asleep.”
Liquor & Gaming NSW’s Director of Compliance Operations, Sean Goodchild, said the case highlights what can go wrong when large events are not properly run.
“With very large crowds in confined spaces, these events can jeopardise public safety if organisers are not committed to the responsible service of alcohol,” he said.
“Festivals play a key role in providing more diverse entertainment and cultural options and showcasing artistic talent.
“Most large festivals are well run but this case shows that organisers who fail to observe our state’s liquor laws can expect to face prosecution and significant penalties in court.”