September 14th 2024.
A popular Indian restaurant and bar in the northern region of Sydney was recently slapped with a hefty $6000 fine for selling alcohol without a proper license. Punia & Sehgal Pty Ltd, the owners of Mad Down Under Bar and Grill in North Ryde, admitted to the offense in the Downing Local Court and were fined $3000 for each of the two charges.
The incident occurred in November last year when the restaurant was caught serving alcohol without a valid license. Two kegs of beer and 98 bottles of liquor were confiscated from the venue during the bust. According to Liquor & Gaming NSW, the restaurant had applied for a liquor license, but decided to start serving alcohol before receiving approval.
It wasn't the first time the restaurant had been warned about this illegal activity. Both Liquor & Gaming NSW and NSW Police had previously issued warnings, but the owners chose to ignore them and continued to sell alcohol. During the Court hearing, the company directors revealed that they felt pressured to sell alcohol due to financial struggles faced by the North Ryde location and their other venues.
As a result of the illegal activity, the North Ryde location, along with two other Mad Down Under venues, has been shut down. This incident highlights the importance of strict compliance with liquor laws and the consequences of failing to do so. Jane Lin, Executive Director of Regulatory Operations and Enforcement at Liquor & Gaming NSW, stated that their inspectors routinely carry out undercover operations across the state.
Lin also emphasized the severe penalties that can be imposed on those who break the law, including fines of up to $11,000 per offense, one year in jail, or both, under the Liquor Act 2007. She also noted that unlicensed venues may not be aware of the responsibilities that come with the sale and supply of alcohol, leading to a higher risk of alcohol-related harms.
These harms include minors accessing alcohol, serving alcohol to intoxicated individuals, and promoting anti-social behavior. Lin urged all operators of unlicensed venues to abide by the law and ensure that their staff is trained in Responsible Service of Alcohol to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
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