A cold drink after a hard game is a popular part of Kiwi culture. Sports clubs that hold liquor licenses can offer their members and guests a welcoming place to celebrate, and raise money for the club.<BR><BR>Just like a pub, sports clubs that sell alcohol are obliged to hold a <A href="http://www.alac.org.nz/LiquorLicenses.aspx" target=_blank>liquor licence</A>. Like pubs they have legal obligations to serve customers <A href="http://www.alac.org.nz/Licensed.aspx" target=_blank>responsibly</A> - <UL><LI>offering food as well as drink<LI>providing non-alcoholic drinks <LI>not serving <A href="http://www.alac.org.nz/LicensedContent.aspx?PostingID=1029" target=_blank>underage</A> or <A href="http://www.alac.org.nz/LicensedContent.aspx?PostingID=1022" target=_blank>intoxicated</A> people</LI></UL><A href="http://www.alac.org.nz/SaleOfLiquorActContent.aspx?PostingID=865" target=_blank>Penalties</A> are heavy for clubs ignoring these legal requirements.<BR><BR>The focu
A cold drink after a hard game is a popular part of Kiwi culture. Sports clubs that hold liquor licenses can offer their members and guests a welcoming place to celebrate, and raise money for the club.
Just like a pub, sports clubs that sell alcohol are obliged to hold a
liquor licence. Like pubs they have legal obligations to serve customers
responsibly -
- offering food as well as drink
- providing non-alcoholic drinks
- not serving underage or intoxicated people
Penalties are heavy for clubs ignoring these legal requirements.
The focus is on taking care of your members -
Manaaki Tangata. When a team's on a winning streak, they'll want to celebrate. Watch out for unsafe drinking and make sure the bar staff are trained and know how to prevent or step in if problems arise.
Staffing bars Having a clear policy on serving alcohol helps to avoid any bad feeling from members who may be refused service. Staff in sports club bars are also club members, which sometimes puts them under pressure from other members to bend the rules.
Since staff are usually volunteers or rostered on part-time, a clear
policy and on the job training in safe serving techniques is very useful to them.
Because staff in sports clubs tend to change much more frequently than in pubs, a
Host Responsibility policy needs to be in place and staff training sessions held often, so the standards are maintained.
Be proud of your house policy. Display it in the bar where everyone can see it and print a copy in the club newsletter.
Young People
A lot of clubs are
"undesignated licensed premises", which means rangatahi can be present but can't be served alcohol. Having teenagers or children around will inevitably lead to someone asking for service. Your bar staff are breaking the law and risking the club's licence every time they sell an alcoholic drink to a minor.
If in doubt about someone's age, ask for
ID, ask them to sign their name and check it corresponds with the ID produced. If they're unable to produce ID, offer them the option of sticking to soft drink or juice, or leaving the bar.
Move around the bar and watch for anyone else buying drinks on their behalf. Some rugby clubs actively discourage underage drinking by requiring under-19 teams to be out of the bar by 7pm.
Remember, under the Sale of Liquor Act, only a parent or legal guardian can purchase alcohol for a minor. Coaches and older club members do not qualify as 'guardians" of young people. So young members don't have the legal right to drink on licensed premises just because they are in the company of those older people.
Food and Drink
Providing plenty of food is a good way to keep sports people in strong shape and it also helps avoid
intoxication.
Pies, mini-pizzas and other freezer to microwave dishes are easy to prepare and can be a source of extra income for the club.
The profit on sales of alcohol is often crucial to a club's finances. However, many clubs are finding that similar mark-ups can be added to alternative drinks like juice, tea, coffee, light beer, milkshakes etc, so members are offered an alternative without the club's income being reduced.
Putting free jugs of iced water on the bar straight after a practice or game, means players can quench their thirst before having an alcohol drink.
Getting Home
Getting everyone home safely, is the biggest test of responsible serving. If your members are stopped for drink driving, police may be asking questions about your liquor licence.
Sports clubs have an important advantage over pubs, since their customers are made up of team members who can look out for one another. Club or team members can rotate the responsibility of driving home. The Club could support the designated driver by offering cut-price or free drinks.
Staff still need to watch out for anyone leaving for the carpark after drinking a few. Remind them of the other people in the car or on the road, whose safety will be at risk. Offer them alternative transport - a taxi or a lift with a friend, or take the keys off them.
