Sydney pub baron can’t escape COVID fines
Pub Baron Craig Laundy probably didn’t think he would be fined, when he held a birthday lunch for his 22 -year-old son at The Red Lion Hotel in Sydney’s inner west suburb of Rozelle.
However, with COVID-restrictions and regulations still in place, the party resulted in two separate $5000 fines.
Guests at the party were seen mingling, hugging and shaking hands, proving just how hard it is for pubs to enforce rules, particularly among young people.
An investigation into the party resulted in the issuance of fines by Liquor and Gaming NSW on Friday.
An anonymous complaint alerted investigators and police were sent to the pub on 2 August, where they found everyone to be seated as per COVID requirements.
However, after obtaining CCTV footage, Liquor & Gaming inspectors observed that this wasn’t the case. Footage of guests greeting each other with handshakes and hugs was discovered, along with people standing in groups and mingling while drinking and moving between tables.
There were 40 guests at the Red Lion party, held on the upstairs balcony of the pub owned by Laundy’s sister Danielle.
Each guest was seated at a table of 10, meaning there were four groups in the venue.
Due to COVID restrictions, the pub is only allowed to 40 have patrons under separate bookings. However, this seemed to be the way the pub owner got around the rules.
Having 40 guests mingling is a clear breach of Public Health Orders.
Director of Department Compliance, Dimitri Argeres, said the venue was trying to get around the rules by booking the guests under different bookings. It was obvious, however, that all 40 guests were known to each other and the physical distancing rule was not adhered to.
“It’s these sorts of social get-togethers that can spark a cluster,” he said.
“When it comes to events like birthday parties and weddings, we’ve seen how quickly people are tempted to forget the rules and throw caution to the wind.
“We expect hoteliers to set exemplary standards, particularly when it comes to managing the heightened risk presented by groups mingling.”
On 15 August, other problems became apparent when Liquor & Gaming inspectors attended the pub and found their safety plan to be out of date and chairs and tables inadequately spaced.
Mr Laundy expressed how difficult it was for publicans to enforce the rules. But he said he would cop the fine “on the chin”.
“I don’t care what the surname of anyone at any one of my venues is; everyone is treated the same if they break the rules and we get fined as a result. We cop it on the chin,” Mr Laundy said.
“This demonstrates how hard it is to get people to sit down and stay at their table.”
Mr Laundy also said that the police attended the pub two times on that particular day and determined everything was running as it should.
NSW hospitality premises have now been fined a total of $304,000 over 68 fines.
A $5000 fine was issued to The Lewisham Hotel for breaches on Friday.
Irit Jackson, 24th August 2020
