Any under-age drinkers caught in Mudgee pubs and clubs will be barred up until their 19th birthday, following a recent decision among members of the Mudgee Liquor Accord.
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At their meeting on Thursday August 23, an idea was raised to implement a common rule for all licenced premises in the town.
Paragon Hotel Manager and Mudgee Liquor Accord chairperson Paul Osseweyer said this was an important rule in preventing hefty fines and inappropriate behaviour.
“It’s a big fine for licensee’s and we can nearly be shut down because of under-age drinkers,” he said.
A fine of $11,000 or 12 months imprisonment and a possible suspension or cancellation of the venue's liquor licence is the maximum penalty if someone were to supply alcohol to a minor on a licensed premises.
With the stakes so high, no business wants to be caught out.
“We’re trying to prevent this happening to hotel and clubs, we don’t want it,” he said.
Mr Osseweyer also said the ignorance of under-age drinkers put businesses like his in jeopardy.
“It’s a big thing against people like us. My business is my way of life and it could be taken away from me because somebody wants to try sneak in and have a drink,” he said.
He urged that it was not worth the risk and kids should wait until they turned 18 to experience the pub scene.
“It’s the case of under-age drinkers wanting to have fun, but they need to realise they can’t be doing it on a licensed premises. It’s illegal,” he said.
Lawson Park Hotel owner Tony Brown agreed and said the initiative was ‘very good’ and should be carried across the state.
“It’s an excellent idea and with 7 pubs and 1 club it’ll be easy to know who’s banned,” he said.
Mr Osseweyer said he would look into getting some signs and publicity of the new rule so the people of Mudgee could become aware of it.
While the rule has been put out for licensed premises to follow, it is up to a business whether they choose to enforce it or not.