Ban on regular glass in high-risk venues

Violence at licensed premises can include physical assaults involving glass. These attacks are called 'glassings'.

If your venue has been declared high risk, a ban will apply to all regular glass containers. Banning regular glass products is a preventative measure to reduce glassings and make licensed venues safer.

Definition of regular glass

Regular glass is defined as glass other than tempered or toughened glass. A regular glass container is one that can hold liquid and is made entirely or partly of regular glass (not tempered or toughened glass). For example:

• drinking glasses
• bottles
• jugs
• stubbies.

During trading hours, licensees of high-risk venues must not serve liquid in a regular glass container in those areas of the premises to which the ban relates. You must also ensure that regular glass containers are not placed in any area accessible to patrons.

High-risk venues must completely remove all regular glass containers from their premises. Licensees of other venues may be subject to varying levels of restriction on regular glass use.

Definition of a high-risk venue

The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) may classify a licensed premises as high-risk (as a whole or in part) if satisfied that during a particular period:

• 1 or more glassings (assaults involving glass) have occurred at the venue
• there has been an 'unacceptable level of violence' at the premises that has caused
  • harm or the potential for harm from alcohol abuse and misuse and associated violence
  • adverse effects on the health or safety of members of the public
  • adverse effect on the amenity of the community.

List of high-risk venues

The following licensed premises are subject to section 97 of the Liquor Act 1992.

If your venue is declared high-risk

You will receive a notice if your licensed venue is declared high-risk. This notice requires that you convert to non-regular glass products. You will be granted a reasonable period of time to source and receive an alternative to the regular glass product.

Response to high-risk status

If you receive a notice, you will have a 14-day period to respond to the proposed high-risk classification. To do this you must reply to the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming, who in turn must consider your response before making a final decision.

Before compiling your response, you should read the decision-making criteria for banning the use of regular glass: Guideline for decision making under part 4 division 9 of the Liquor Act 1992.

Appealing a high-risk status

After the notice and consideration period, if the Commissioner declares your licensed premises high-risk, you cannot appeal to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The decision may only be judicially reviewed.

Reviewing a high-risk status

You may apply to have a high-risk declaration reviewed 1 year after its inception.

Police at your licensed premises

You should not be reluctant to call the police to respond to disturbances in or near your premises. As a licensee you are obligated by law to provide a safe environment for your staff and patrons. If you fail to call police you may breach your legal responsibility.

Having the police called to your premises will not automatically deem it a high-risk venue. Police report on each alcohol-related incident to OLGR, who then assess and analyse the information, including whether the actions of the licensee or their staff contributed to the incident in any way.

Also consider...

• Learn more about patron and staff safety on licensed premises.
• Read Understanding glassing incidents on licensed premises: dimensions, prevention and control.
• Read the Liquor Act 1992.
• Contact the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.