Drinking alcohol without meal
Restaurant & Catering Australia is delighted to see the Western Australian Government and the Minister for Sport and Recreation; Racing and Gaming, the Hon. Terry Waldron announce their commitment to the election promise of making it easier for licensed restaurants and cafes to serve alcohol without purchasing a meal.
Restaurants and caterers account for 57% of licensed hospitality venues in Western Australia (45% for clubs and 15.2% for hotels). Spend on restaurants, cafes and caterers makes up an estimated 16% of tourism expenditure in Western Australia.
Warwick Lavis, Restaurant & Catering WA President said that ‘the expectation of tourists and locals alike is that they can have a drink in their local restaurant. This change gets us much closer to giving our customers what they want’.
After numerous consultations with the Minister, Restaurant & Catering has been calling for this amendment to the Liquor Regulation and Liquor Act to allow restaurants and cafes to stay competitive in the market.
Mr John Hart, Chief Executive Officer of Restaurant & Catering says “the Government should be congratulated for taking a proactive step in helping licensed restaurants and cafes the option to add this opportunity for diners to choose with to drink and/or dine in a licensed restaurant or café”.
He went on to say “the Government needs to keep open dialogue with industry bodies when completing the current review of the Liquor Act”.
The Association support this announcement by the Government and looks forward to working on further liquor issues with the Minister in due course, particularly in the context on the review of the Liquor Act.
Source: Restaurant & Catering Australia, 30 May 2013
Licensing change allows alcohol without a meal
Up to 500 WA restaurants are expected to take advantage of a fast-tracked permit system allowing them to serve alcohol without food.
Of the 819 licensed restaurants in WA, only 136 have approval to serve alcohol without a meal.
Those with space for less than 120 people can apply for a permit to do so, but it involves more than $400 in application fees and a lengthy wait.
The Premier Colin Barnett has today followed through on an election promise to change that.
He says the government will legislate to give all eligible establishments the right to serve alcohol without food, removing the need for a permit.
But the legislation will not be introduced until a review of WA's Liquor Control Act is completed.
Mr Barnett has announced that as an interim measure, fast-tracked permits will be available from next week at a cost of $50.
"I think its good for small business and also terrific for patrons," he said.
"I hope it will result in greater business activity and greater enjoyment and choice for customers in Perth and [throughout] WA.
"I also hope it will be associated with a more mature and responsible approach to both the consumption of alcohol and the serving of alcohol."
Long overdue
Mr Barnett says the change is long overdue.
"Perth is growing up as a city and we need to be sophisticated like major cities, not only in Australia but around the world," he said.
"This is a sign of a maturing of our state and our capital city, and I have confidence that restaurant owners will make sure they use this responsibly."
Mr Barnett says he wants to make it clear the changes are not designed to create more bars.
"People having a drink without a meal must be seated at a table, so it's not like a bar environment," he said.
A restaurant's kitchen must also remain open while people are being served alcohol.
"The objective from owners will be yes come in and have a drink, but we hope you have a meal later, because that's their prime business," Mr Barnett said.
"You can get anti-social behaviour anywhere, but I think we've got to trust not only the businesses but also the patrons."
It's estimated between 400 and 500 establishments could qualify for a permit under the changes.
Bradley Woods from the WA branch of the Australian Hotels Association welcomes the change.
"It is frustrating if you join a group of friends and cant have a drink because of the regulation," he said.
"This is about flexibility and modernising our hospitality business, without [restaurants] becoming full-on taverns or bars and opening up concerns from police and health groups.
"I think the State Government has made a wise decision to bring it forward, as opposed to waiting until the Liquor Review is finalised."
Mr Woods says the red tape surrounding liquor licensing laws may be turning some potential licensees off operating in WA.
Source: ABC News, 30 May 2013
