New Tool to Monitor Intoxication

New Tool to Monitor Intoxication
PRESS RELEASE
26 FEBRUARY 2013
A new tool for regulatory and hospitality bar and door staff to monitor intoxication on licensed premises was rolled out at a Hospitality New Zealand breakfast meeting in Wellington this week.

The tool has been developed by the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) in consultation with NZ Police, the New Zealand Institute of Licensing Inspectors (NZILLI) and the hospitality industry (Hospitality NZ and the Trinity Group).

“The tool which is available in a pocket card size and as a poster describes the various signs of speech, coordination, appearance and behaviour displayed by someone who is sober, someone who is affected by alcohol and someone who is intoxicated,” said HPA Principal Advisor Drinking Environments Mark Lyne.

“The tool will assist bar staff in their management of intoxicated patrons in their bars and also the regulatory agencies in their monitoring and enforcement roles,” he said. “This is the first time the same tool was available for both the hospitality industry and the regulatory agencies, and should improve consistency in both their approaches, as well as reduce intoxication in licensed premises.”

Bruce Robertson Hospitality New Zealand CEO said the tool was a great example of the good practical solutions that could come out of collaborative work between the regulators and the industry.

"Dealing with issues of intoxication is increasingly important to licensed premises as the authorities step up the pressure in this area on licensees and managers,’ he said.

“The general public don't realise the severe penalties that arise for licensees if an intoxicated person is found on their premises. Even if that person has pre-loaded at home and not purchased one drink the licensee can still be prosecuted because they are intoxicated on their premises," he explained.

“Therefore it’s important all staff are trained to identify and deal with these issues."
Murray Clearwater, President of NZILLI said the organisation was very pleased that licensees, managers, police and inspectors now had a common terminology and an agreed template to assess intoxication.

“It will also provide clarity for the industry as patrons will be assessed as either sober, affected by alcohol, or intoxicated with clear directions on how each category is to be managed,” he said.

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