Duty Managers Toolbox Newsletter 1
Police Compliance Checks
Acting Senior Sergeant Ian Paulin is the Coordinator of Alcohol Harm Prevention Community Partnerships and Prevention at National Headquarters. He has given us some valuable insight into Police Compliance Checks when police visit your premises.
Ever wondered why police go into bars, dressed in hi-vis in large numbers? What are they trying to accomplish?
In police speak this is called a 3H licensed premises compliance check. Essentially we are checking that the licensed premises is complying with all aspects of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (the Act). To do this properly we need to talk with patrons, security, and duty managers and we need to record the results of these conversations.
When we enter, one of us will engage with the duty manager and will run through recording the visit on their iPhone. This is a quick way to ensure checks are consistent throughout the country and we record the same data every time. We will also check the security have their (current!) COA displayed.
We wear our hi-vis so we can see each other, keeping each of us safe- I’m not saying you run a unsafe bar but the police presence in a bar can provoke some primal activity in even your best behaved patrons. A large premises needs good numbers of officers to cover in a timely manner, so sometimes we do have large numbers.
We will talk to your patrons, as you know the SCAB assessment tool is the industry standard from assessing intoxication, so to start that process we like to get people speaking. A vast majority of these conversations are a bit of friendly banter, or a quick yarn but the odd one does invoke a more thorough investigation. We will ask the duty manager for their opinion and will get another police officer to do an independent assessment as well. This is usually best handled outside where it is quieter.
A quality compliance check will look into what food options are available, with a quick peek at the kitchen and freezer. Yes it has happened more than once where a pie couldn’t be microwaved because there was no microwave, even worse the freezer is locked with no key, absolute worse case was a kitchen piled high with furniture removed from the bar to make a dance floor.
We will check the low alcohol options and where your free water is and then be on our way. A vast majority of visits are done and dusted in 10 minutes. If you think things didn’t go as well as they could, we are open to feedback. Speak to your local Alcohol Harm Prevention Officer.
Ka pai Ian – thanks for the advice!
Duty Managers Toolbox Newsletter 2
Conversations from the Frontline
(This regular feature will interview Duty Managers around the country about their job as a DM)
Adam Jones is the Duty Manager at Number 7 Balmac in Dunedin. He has been working as a DM for over ten years. We had a good chat with Adam.
No7 Balmac is a beautiful neighbourhood eatery based in the hill suburb of Maori Hill Dunedin. It’s a home away from home.
We provide a strong sense of family, consideration and care to our community. We have a high level of engagement with the local community and are a place of genuine hospitality.
As a manager here for more than 10 years I believe a "great manager" is someone who really cares about the people, both colleagues and guests, and provides a safe and relaxed environment for guests to come and enjoy a well thought-out menu. Adhering to the liquor licensing legislation, Host responsibility and providing the safe service of alcohol is paramount to the success in this industry.
Having online LCQ and short courses readily available is a great way to get staff informed and educated, it’s a great platform to further yourself into a Hospitality management role and ensure all operations are met, upheld and practised throughout.
Duty Managers Toolbox Newsletter 3
Licensing Inspector Compliance Checks
Tanya Morrison is a Licensing Inspector as part of the Environmental Health team at The Dunedin City Council. She was happy to give us the skinny on Compliance Checks.
Licensing inspectors, like any member of the tri-agency group (made up of Police, Te Whatu Ora (Public health) and licensing inspectors) can enter your premises at any time to conduct a compliance check. Most likely you’ve dealt with a licensing inspector before when obtaining your duty managers certificate and you’ve had to complete an interview.
So, what are we looking for and why do we check? Essentially spot checks allow us to have confidence that all provisions of the Act are being continually met. This includes having the appropriate signage displayed around the bar (Your licence, Host responsibility policy, duty manager’s name, menus/free water signage, promotion of taxis and signage stating you won’t serve intoxicated persons or minors), having food, free water and low alcohol options available.
We will also do a quick scan for any signs of intoxicated persons using the SCAB assessment tool. We may or may not also request a copy of records such as an incident log or list of all duty managers.
We aim to identify ourselves to the duty manager listed and generally just ask how things are going, if there’s been any issues recently etc. Unlike the Police though, we don’t tend to wear hi-vis vests, but we do carry a warrant with us (ID card) to verify who we are.
Compliance checks usually take no more than 10 minutes and we aim to address any issues found with the duty manager at the time, or if more appropriate with the appropriate manager and/or owner at a later date.
Common issues we find include not having the correct Duty Managers name displayed (or even being onsite!), not having a low alcohol option available (between 1.15 and 2.5% ABV) and not displaying menus/having sufficient food available.
Make sure there is a Manager on Duty with their LCQ and their Manager's Certificate is current.
We are also always available if you have any queries or concerns within your premises or would like to discuss training options for your staff, just give us a shout!
