The Wagga Liquor Accord meeting was held at the Sportsmen’s Club Hotel. Photo: Facebook.
Wagga publicans have added the names of 11 people to their list of those who are barred from entering licensed premises across the town. The move came at a meeting at the Sportsmen’s Club Hotel last week.
The Wagga Wagga Liquor Accord is a partnership between licensed venues, community members, local businesses, councils, police, and other community groups to address alcohol-related issues such as anti-social behaviour and violence.
It means that pubs and clubs can share information on alleged troublemakers and apply multi-venue bans on them, rather than having each business act in isolation. The group has a ”barred from one, barred from all” policy.
At its Tuesday meeting, a total of 11 people were added to what’s called the Joint Barred List.
Six individuals were barred for three years each for their involvement in serious incidents. One minor was barred until their 19th birthday.
The final combined barring period for the 11 patrons who fell foul of the licensees was 21 years.
A further three people referred to the committee were found not to meet the barring guidelines. Although they were not banned from all venues, they have been barred from the licensed premises where their incidents occurred.
A North Wagga Wagga man has been given the opportunity to re-enter licensed premises after committee members considered his request to be removed from the barred list. He had spent several years on the list. He wrote to the committee acknowledging his mistakes and accepted that his past behaviour was not acceptable.
“This strong action shows licensees will not accept violence, drugs, anti-social behaviour or minors illegally in their licensed premises,” Riverina Police said in a statement on social media.
“Wagga Wagga Liquor Accord has been at the forefront of multi-venue barring policy in NSW for more than a decade. It is a policy that has reshaped the behaviour of patrons in licensed premises in Wagga Wagga and is seen as one of the most successful initiatives ever implemented by the accord.
“Please remember it is a privilege, not a right, to enter licensed premises.”
Griffith and Albury also have liquor accords.
