Sydney pub ordered to retrain staff in responsible alcohol service
The Sackville Hotel in Rozelle has been directed to provide additional responsible service of alcohol (RSA) training to its staff following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding former News Corp journalist, Paul Kent. The investigation, conducted by Liquor and Gaming NSW, was prompted by revelations in a Sydney court that Kent consumed 21 schooners of beer at the pub prior to a late-night street fight in April 2022.
Kent, who at the time co-hosted NRL 360 on Fox Sports and wrote for The Daily Telegraph, lost his job following the altercation. He was charged with affray and subsequently pleaded guilty. The incident occurred outside a restaurant near the Sackville Hotel, where Kent had spent the afternoon and evening.
The Liquor and Gaming NSW investigation focused on the hotel's RSA. The regulator confirmed the schooners consumed were not full-strength, however the outcome of the inquiry requires the Sackville Hotel to boost its staff training to ensure responsible alcohol service practices are upheld.
“Liquor and Gaming NSW has completed an investigation following a complaint regarding the Sackville Hotel, where a patron consumed an excessive amount of mid-strength beer over an 11-hour period on April 27, 2024,” a spokesperson said.
“The investigation determined that the patron did not display obvious signs of intoxication to staff, and most of the drinks consumed were purchased by other individuals.”
The venue had been given an enforceable undertaking under the state’s Liquor Act.
“This requires the venue to conduct additional in-house RSA training with all employees engaged in the service of alcohol and update its plan of management to prevent similar incidents in the future,” the spokesperson said.
“Liquor and Gaming NSW is committed to ensuring compliance with RSA laws and works closely with licensed venues to promote community safety.”
A spokesperson for The Sackville, which is owned by the Solotel group, which owns other popular Sydney pubs, such as the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay, the Clock Hotel in Surry Hills, the Courthouse Hotel in Newtown, and the Opera Bar at Circular Quay, said it had already taken action.
“We accepted these recommendations fully, rolling out a comprehensive RSA training refresher for the team and updating our management plan accordingly,” the spokesperson said.
“We’re always evolving our procedures and training to meet the highest standards of compliance, and that commitment remains ongoing.”
Jonathan Jackson, 19th February 2025
