By James Atkinson
Three licensed Sydney restaurants have been fined $1,100 each and named on the Three Strikes public register for operating outside their authorised trading hours.
The venues, Sam & Terry Café in Pitt Street, Hanabi Restaurant in Liverpool Street, and The Broadway Café at Chippendale, have been issued with first 'strikes' under the Three Strikes disciplinary scheme.
At 2am on Saturday, August 11, 2012, licensing police attended Sam & Terry Café to find the venue fully trading with patrons drinking alcohol, three hours after its approved 11pm closing time.
At 10.45pm on April 6, 2012, licensing police visited Hanabi Restaurant and observed alcohol being consumed on most tables after the approved 10pm closing time for Good Friday.
At 12.45am on Saturday, June 2, 2012, licensing officers attended The Broadway Café and found over 40 customers on site including a number being served alcohol after its approved midnight closing time.
The three breaches bring to 12 the number of NSW licensed venues that have now incurred strikes for breaching their trading hours.
OLGR Director of Compliance Paul Newson said it was illegal for licensees to operate outside their approved trading hours with serious penalties applying.
Licensees are also required by law to keep a register containing copies of responsible service of alcohol (RSA) certificates of staff involved in the sale or service of alcohol, as well as those of security staff.
"While most licensees do the right thing, these breaches should serve as a warning to all licensees to be vigilant in abiding by their approved licence conditions," Newson said.
"It is illegal for alcohol to be sold, supplied or consumed inside a licensed venue outside of approved trading hours, with court imposed penalties of up to $11,000 and 12 months imprisonment applying."
Thirty three NSW licensed venues have now incurred a first strike with the public register of strikes available for viewing on the OLGR website.