2009 Caulfield Spring Racing Carnival Notice

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 2008 Caulfield Spring Racing Carnival and will be repeating that in 2009.

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, 17 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. Approximately 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 2009 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

Responsible Service of Alcohol Guidelines

The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC):

• Recognises that it is against the law to serve anyone to intoxication.
• Recognises that it is against the law to serve anyone under the age of 18
• Recognises that it is against the law to allow disruptive, quarrelsome or violent behaviour to occur on our premises

We are committed to the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and request you review this broad guidance material to help ensure that you have a great time when you next visit us. The MRC has adopted the following information to provide a framework for RSA at our venues.

Alcohol Consumption:

• Persons who are intoxicated will be Refused Admission to our premises.
• We will display and refer to intoxication signs in order to support our responsible attitude and meet the requirements of legislation.
• Any patron in our establishments will be Denied Service if they are considered intoxicated.
• The Club does not seek to encourage rapid or excessive consumption through aggressive pricing.
• Low alcoholic beers and non-alcoholic beverages are stocked, promoted and offered as an alternative to patrons who are judged at risk of becoming intoxicated.
• If such patrons continue to order alcoholic beverages the staff member will contact a supervisor and alert them to the patron’s current or approaching state of intoxication and refuse service on their own judgment.
• The Club does not condone or encourage high-risk groups entering its premises (buck’s parties, celebrations by external sporting groups etc).
• The Club carries all necessary RSA signs to highlight these points.
• MRC does not allow the consumption of liquor by minors under any circumstances.
• MRC reserves the right to close down any function if the behavior of guests becomes unacceptable.

Under Age Drinking

The MRC recognises only three forms of identification.

1. Current Victorian Drivers license
2. Proof of Age Card
3. A Passport

• If a staff member suspects that a person who is ordering or being supplied alcohol is under 18 years of age they will request proof of age.
• If a person is less than 18 years of age or refuses to produce identification, staff will refuse service and advise a supervisor of the patron(s) situation.
• All necessary RSA signage will be visible to both patrons and bar staff.
• Persons under the age of 18 are not permitted to stand or be served at the bar even for non-alcoholic products.

Disruptive, Quarrelsome or Violent Behaviour

If a staff member becomes aware that a person’s behavior is becoming disruptive, quarrelsome or violent the staff member will notify security who will attempt to discuss the issue with the patron. If the behavior is not rectified the person will be asked to leave the premises immediately.

Refusal of Service

If Service of Alcohol is refused to a patron the staff member refusing service will emphasise that the individual’s patronage is greatly valued. The staff member will then inform the patron that further service of alcohol is illegal and could jeopardise the staff member's position, the Clubs liquor license and both parties could be liable to large fines.

Drinking and Driving

Staff members will be pro-active in seeking to discourage drinking and driving.

The club offers a number of services designed to alleviate the need for drink driving. These services include the provision of overnight parking facilities and the arrangement of alternative transport arrangements (i.e. Taxis).

Training and Promotions

All staff have been informed about this guidance material on Responsible Service of Alcohol and adequately trained to support this position.

This Club seeks to publicise and promote its position on Responsible Serving Practices and we will support the Victoria Police and Responsible Alcohol Victoria in their regulatory roles that aim to implement the Governments policies on the responsible consumption and service of alcohol.