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As seen in the April 2020 edition of QHA's QHA Review.
Since their introduction in 2017, mandatory ID Scanning laws have be a source of contention in the Queensland hotel and pub industry, so the latest amendments to the regime have been welcomed by Queensland licensees. While we may not have achieved a perfect balance, the changes are a welcome attempt by the State Government to balance the need to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence whilst also reducing the burden on licensees of adopting ID Scanners or reducing operating hours.
The results of a recent evaluation of the State Government’s Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence Policy found that ultimately, one size does not fit all. While ID scanners have been proven to make precincts safer, the review confirmed what venue owners have been saying for years, that they are the cause of a fall in patronage, particularly on quieter weeknights.
As a reminder, prior to the reforms, licensees with venues in the safe night precinct and authorised to sell liquor after 1.00am were required to scan the ID of each patron on entry after 10.00pm. This applied on all nights the premises is authorised to supply liquor after midnight.
What’s changed?
The notable amendments to ID scanning obligations are:
There is no doubting ID scanning has impacted venues throughout Queensland, not to mention New South Wales where calls to the New South Wales State Government to dilute these consequences have largely gone unanswered. However hopefully these reforms will improve operating conditions for Queensland owners and operators, resulting in an increase of patrons and revenue.
If you need more information on your rights and requirements in relation to ID Scanning, contact Curt Schatz on 07 3224 0230.
"The content of this publication is for reference purposes only. It is current at the date of publication. This content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be obtained before taking any action based on this publication."