MONTROSE SOCCER CLUB – ALCOHOL MANAGEMENT POLICY
1 – Rationale
This policy provides the basis for a balanced and responsible approach to the use of alcohol at Montrose Soccer Club events and activities. This policy will help to ensure the club:
Meets its duty of care in relation to the health and safety of our members and guests
who attend our club functions.
Upholds the reputation of the club, our sponsors and partners.
Understand the risks associated with alcohol misuse and our role in minimising this risk.
Montrose Soccer Club recognises the legal responsibilities, financial and social benefits of
holding a liquor license in the community. In doing so, we will adhere to liquor licensing laws and the criteria of the Good Sports program.
Accordingly, and to ensure the aims of the club are upheld and that alcohol is managed
responsibly, the following policy requirements will apply:
When alcohol is served by the club at our facilities or during a club function, even if off-site.
To all players, coaches, officials, members, club visitors, club facilities, club functions and other activities undertaken by the club where alcohol is consumed.
General Principles
A risk management approach will be taken in planning events/activities involving the sale,
supply or consumption of alcohol. Such events will be conducted and managed in a manner
consistent with liquor licensing legislation and this policy.
Alcohol misuse can lead to unsafe
or unacceptable sexual and/or violent behaviour, drink
– driving and other alcohol
– related harm. Excessive consumption of alcohol will not be an
excuse for unacceptable behaviour, particularly behaviour that endangers others or breaches
the law, this policy
or any other policy of the club.
Committee Members, Members, Players and Officials
Must not compete, train, coach or officiate if affected by alcohol.
Must not provide, encourage or allow people aged under 18 to consume alcohol.
Must not participate in or
encourage excessive or rapid consumption of alcohol (including
drinking competitions).
Must not pressure anyone to drink alcoholic beverages.
Must not post images on social media of themselves or others drinking alcohol at club related activities.
Must accept responsibility for own behaviour, take a responsible approach and use good judgment when alcohol is available.
Our Alcohol Management Policy meets part of our commitment to the Australian Drug
Foundation’s Good Sports Program. Go to Goodsports.com.au for more information.
2 – General
The club will ensure that:
A current and appropriate liquor license is maintained.
The club’s liquor license will be displayed as near as practical to the entrance of the clubroom or beside the bar/canteen (as required by law).
All mandatorily required liquor licence signage will be displayed in each area/room covered by the club’s license.
The names of Responsible Service of Alcohol
(RSA) trained personnel will be displayed and/or
kept in a folder at the canteen/bar.
Bar servers of alcohol are not permitted to consume alcohol when on duty.
Information posters about ‘Standard Drink measures’ will be displayed prominently near
where alcohol is served.
An Incident Register will be maintained (at the bar/canteen) and any alcohol-related incident
will be recorded on the register.
Functions
The club will not:
- Conduct functions where a minimum amount of liquor sales is required
- Conduct ‘all you can drink’ functions
- Provide alcohol-only drink vouchers for functions
- Include alcohol in the price of tickets (or will limit ‘free’ drinks to a maximum of two).
Advertisements for functions will:
- Not overemphasise the availability of alcohol or refer to the amount of alcohol available.
- Not encourage rapid drinking or excessive drinking.
- Give equal reference to the availability of non-alcoholic drinks.
- Display a clear start and finish time for the function.
Service of Alcohol
Alcohol will be served according to the club’s Liquor Licence with the safety and well
– being of members and guests the priority. The club will ensure:
Only RSA trained bar servers with current qualifications will serve alcohol.
People under 18 will not serve alcohol.
Excessive or rapid consumption of alcohol is not encouraged which includes not conducting:
- Happy hours
- Cheap drink promotions
- Drinking competitions.
- That service of double/triple measures of spirits is discouraged.
When serving non pre-packaged alcohol
(e.g. drinks in glasses), standard drink measures will
be served at all times.
Our Alcohol Management Policy meets part of our commitment to the Australian Drug
Foundation’s Good Sports Program. Go to Goodsports.com.au for more information.
3 – Intoxicated people
Intoxicated people will not be permitted to enter the premises.
Alcohol will not be served to any person who is or appears intoxicated.
Bar servers will follow RSA training procedures when refusing service to an intoxicated person.
If a person becomes intoxicated (and is
not putting other people at risk with their behaviour)
they will not be served alcohol but will be provided with water and options for safe
transport home from the club (where available).
If a person becomes intoxicated (and
is putting other people at risk due to their behaviour)
they will be asked to leave the premises immediately and offered safe transport options
(where available). Police
may also be contacted to remove the person, if required.
Any alcohol
-related incident and any action taken will be recorded in the club’s incident
register.
Underage Drinking
Alcohol will not be served to persons aged under 18.
Servers and committee members will ask for proof of age whenever the age of a person
requesting alcohol is in doubt.
Only photo ID’s will be accepted as ‘proof of age’.
The club will discourage the drinking of alcohol in the change
-rooms to reduce the risk of minors being served alcohol illegally.
Availability of Non-Alcoholic and Low Alcohol Drinks
The club recognises that alcohol is not the only revenue stream available and actively encourages
the sale of alternative products to that of alcohol.
Tap water will be provided free of charge (where available).
At least four non-alcoholic drinks and one low-alcoholic drink option will always be available
and priced at least 10% cheaper than the cheapest full strength drink.
Non-alcoholic drinks should be clearly visible and adequate in variety and supply.
Food
Food (more than chips, nuts and similar snacks) will
,
where possible, be available when alcohol is available for more than 90 minutes or more than 15 people are present.
Our Alcohol Management Policy meets part of our commitment to the Australian Drug
Foundation’s Good Sports Program. Go to Goodsports.com.au for more information.
4 – Safe Transport
The club recognises that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and hazardous to individuals and the wider community. Accordingly, the club implements a Safe Transport Policy that is reviewed regularly in conjunction with this Alcohol Management Policy. We ask that all attendees at our functions plan their transport requirements to ensure they arrive home safely and prevent driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Club Trips
The club will monitor and ensure any club trips, particularly end of season player trips, strictly adhere to responsible behaviour and alcohol consumption in accordance with the principles of this policy and the aims of the association. The club will not actively promote or fundraise for player’s
end of season trips, thereby minimising the club’s risk and liability if an alcohol-related incident
occurs.
Policy and Responsible Use of Alcohol Promotion
The club will promote the alcohol management policy regularly:
- By putting a copy of the policy on the website and make available in the clubhouse
- Through periodic announcements to members at functions.
The club will educate club members and supporters about the alcohol policy and the benefits of having such a policy.
The club will actively demonstrate its attitude relating to the responsible use of alcohol and
promote positive messages.
The club will not advertise, promote or have alcohol served or consumed at junior events or
activities.
The club will pursue non-alcohol sponsorship and revenue sources.
The club will actively participate in the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program
with an ongoing priority to maintain Level 3 accreditation
Non Compliance
All club committee members will enforce the alcohol management policy and any non-compliance,
particularly in regard to Licencing Laws, will be handled according to the following process:
Explanation of the policy to the person/people concerned, including identification of the
section of policy not being complied with.
Continued non-compliance with the policy should be handled by at least two committee members who will use their discretion as to the action taken, which may include asking the
person/ people to leave the facilities or function.
Our Alcohol Management Policy meets part of our commitment to the Australian Drug
Foundation’s Good Sports Program. Go to Goodsports.com.au for more information.
5 – Policy Management
The presence of a bar manager and/or committee members is essential
to ensure compliance with this policy. The bar manager or committee member(s) who are RSA trained are required to be present at all club functions when the bar is open. Key responsibilities of the bar manager/duty committee member(s) are to ensure:
Compliance with this policy and the liquor licensing laws
Persons under 18 years of age are not served alcohol
Intoxicated people are not served alcohol and are asked to leave after safe transport options
are offered or provided
Any alcohol-incidents are recorded in the incident register
Visiting police are cooperated with and assisted in any inquiries
Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed bi-annually to ensure it remains relevant to club operations and
reflects both community expectations and legal requirements.
Signature
Signed:
Signed:
Club President
Club Secretary
Date: 22 June 2017
Date: 22 April 2016
Next policy review date: 1 June 2018.