Drunk proves costly for pub
LESS than a month away from the start of the 2012 Grafton Racing Carnival, a Grafton licensee has been fined $2700 for permitting a drunk man on the hotel premises.
Specialised Holdings Pty Ltd, trading as the Post Office Hotel or Club PO in Victoria St, was fined in Grafton Local Court last Tuesday after pleading guilty to "permitting intoxication" following last year's Grafton Cup.
About 10pm on the night of the Grafton Cup on July 14, 2011, police and compliance officers witnessed a man at the Post Office Hotel who displayed clear signs of intoxication.
The man was seen swaying and bumping into people before falling from a deck area where he was assisted to his feet by security but was not removed from the hotel.
The man continued to sway and stagger and fell again before being assisted by an officer from the Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing (OLGR) and was subsequently removed from the premises after officers identified themselves to hotel management.
The court heard that Coffs/Clarence Police had liaised with Grafton licensed premises in the lead-up to last year's Grafton Cup week to develop strategies to manage alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.
OLGR director of compliance Paul Newson said the office and police would be active again at this year's Grafton Cup race week.
