Liquor Management Initiatives

In keeping with its commitment to continuous improvement, the Melbourne Racing Club has adopted a proactive approach to liquor control at the upcoming Caulfield Spring Racing Carnival.

The Club announced changes to concession eligibility for the 2006 Caulfield Spring Racing Carnival and will be repeating that in 2007.

This year, concession tickets will be made available only to holders of Government approved pensioner concession cards for BMW Caulfield Cup Day. Students will not be eligible for concession admission on BMW Caulfield Cup Day (Saturday, 20 October).

Other changes incorporated into the Club’s liquor management plan at that time included the introduction of wrist bands for young patrons who produce normally recognised Proof-of-Age identification, thorough bag searches, increased police presence and safety cameras around the venue.

The Club has continued with a price reduction or hold on all standard light beer sales during Caulfield’s three feature race days. Price reductions will also be implemented on all soft drink and bottled water products during the Carnival. Aproximately 27 locations around the course will have free drinking water available.

Melbourne Racing Club General Manager - Commercial Operations, Simon Gardner, said the price reductions complemented the Club’s efforts in the responsible service of alcohol and would be applicable at all on-course outlets selling these products. This year will also see an increase in dedicated RSA accredited Security personnel at all bar outlets.

“All our bars will offer low alcohol beers and soft drinks,” Mr Gardner explained. “Additionally, we will be providing an increased number of dedicated soft drink outlets this year, plus a large number of free tap water drinking fountains situated all around the racecourse,” he added.

The Club’s approach to liquor control issues at the Caulfield Spring Racing Carnival has been formulated with the co-operation and full endorsement of local and liquor licensing police.

A summarised list of the various initiatives undertaken by the Club in the formulation of the liquor management plan for the 2007 Caulfield Spring Racing Carnival includes:

Writing to all local schools to assist in communicating the initiatives to students

Eliminating student concession ticketing for BMW Caulfield Cup day

Providing clearly visible wrist bands for those over the age of 18 so as to allow the purchase of alcohol from bars and to provide clear visibility of consumption in the crowd

Bag searches at all points of entry and a zero tolerance for anyone detected bringing alcohol into the premises, in particular concealed vessels

Conditions of entry prohibiting the bringing of liquids onto the course

Surveillance via observation and CCTV of crowd behaviour and at all entry points

Security personnel at all bars to ensure correct wrist banding and refusal of service to alcohol affected persons

Provision of clearly identifiable, complimentary drinking water locations

Drink outlets dedicated to the provision of soft drinks and water only to avoid queuing

Soft drinks, water and low alcohol beer will be available at all bars

Liaising with local licensed outlets via the Police Liquor Licensing members to ensure responsible practices are undertaken

Chill out areas for those affected by liquor or other substances, staffed by competent professionals

Affected persons will be refused entry to the course

Police undertaking a zero tolerance approach to those under the age of 18, possessing, purchasing or consuming alcohol

Security personnel directing alcohol affected persons to chill out areas rather than evicting from the premises