A recent incident at the Gladstone Hotel in Stockton, New South Wales, has resulted in the ban of licensee Tracey Keegan from holding a liquor licence for two years. The ban was imposed by the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority following a severe case where a patron was served an alarming 35 standard drinks, leading to the patron being carried unconscious from the venue.
It was reported that on March 6, 2021, the patron was served an excessive amount of alcohol, including 22 schooners of beer and one shot, over a period of six and a half hours. Despite the patron being visibly intoxicated and falling over several times, bar staff continued to serve him without calling for medical assistance.
The authority’s investigation found that Ms. Keegan had not implemented proper measures to prevent such a serious incident from occurring. As a result, she has been banned from holding positions of liquor licensee and approved manager, as well as being a close associate of a licensee, for the next two years. Following the incident, the hotel’s liquor licence was transferred to a new licensee.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible service of alcohol and highlights the consequences that can arise when proper measures are not taken to prevent alcohol-related harm.