The licensee of Sydney CBD’s Assembly Bar has received a first strike from the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) for allowing a patron to become so intoxicated she needed medical attention after drinking shots with a bartender.

ILGA has imposed a strike against licensee Jeremy Nicholas King under the NSW Government’s Three Strikes disciplinary scheme.

In April 2019 police found the woman on Kent Street at 2am and immediately called for an ambulance as she was unresponsive, smelt heavily of alcohol and had blood shot eyes.

CCTV footage shows two patrons enter the bar at 11.30pm and order and consume three shots of alcohol each over seven minutes. While the couple look intoxicated, they were not refused service. One of the bartenders drank shots with the couple on two occasions.

ILGA chair Philip Crawford said this case is an example of blatant disregard for responsible service of alcohol obligations.

“Failure by staff to sufficiently monitor liquor consumption and remove the intoxicated person led to an increased risk of alcohol-related harm and compromised the safety of the patron and those around her,” Crawford said.

“The fact that she was found passed out, unresponsive and requiring immediate medical attention highlights the serious risk of injury or death.

“This case is particularly shocking with one bartender actively encouraging the patron’s behaviour by drinking shots with her. The poor practices exhibited by Assembly Bar reflect inadequate staff training and awareness to sufficiently monitor and supervise patron behaviour.”

Licensees with strikes face a range of remedial action and those incurring three strikes can have their licences suspended or be permanently removed from the industry.

Andy Young

Andy joined Intermedia as Editor of The Shout in 2015, writing news on a daily basis and also writing features for National Liquor News. Now Managing Editor of both The Shout and Bars and Clubs.

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