Adelaide Oval granted permission to sell alcohol in cans
Adelaide Oval has won the right to sell alcohol in cans – on one condition.
SA News
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Adelaide Oval has won a bid to vary its liquor licence to allow the sale of tin cans under the provisory it advertises flash warnings on billboards that throwing cans is a criminal offence.
It’s a move that's likely to infuriate the police union, which this week expressed fears the cans may be used as missiles by drunk spectators.
“The licensee has also agreed to a number of commitments to alleviate the public safety concerns raised by SAPOL,” the Liquor and Gaming Commissioner states.
The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority agreed to making stadium announcements on screens during events at the oval, including to warn patrons against using the can as a projectile.
It also agreed to warning that using a can as a projectile will attract a ban from the oval for up to two years.
“I am advised that the venue will continue to offer drinks in plastic cups, this change to their licence will allow them to also offer cans for certain lines,” the Liquor and Gaming Commissioner states.
“I am further advised that the venue will not be removing any infrastructure used for the provision of alcoholic beverages on tap into cups and therefore will be able to quickly revert to plastic cups only should the need arise.”
In its application for the liquor licence variation, the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority stated it was “environmentally responsible’’ and suggested that if granted, it should be reviewed in six months.
The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authoritiy’s chief operating officer Adam Vonthethoff said the changes will probably come into effect at the end of October for the SANFL grand final.
“Adelaide Oval already had cans, and all the other stadiums around the country were already in a position to serve cans in public areas, so this is just an extension of what we’re already doing,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide on Thursday.
“What cans will allow us to do is offer a wider range of choice to the public as well as our members area.
“It’s no doubt that not having to decanter a can into a plastic cup is beneficial.”
He said he was not aware of any problems with cans at stadiums across the country.
“We’ve got a great relationship with SAPOL and have been for many years, and this has been a lot of dialogue, and a lot of conversation with SAPOL,” Mr Vonthethoff said.
Police Association president Mark Carroll on Thursday reiterated the move would put the safety of police officers and others at risk and was “totally unnecessary”.
He said it was “disappointing’’ that police commissioner Grant Stevens had not taken the fears of rank-and-file officers into account and changed his mind in opposing the move.
“We know as an absolute matter of fact that thugs at sporting events have used full cans of beer as projectiles,’’ he said.
“It has happened before and it will certainly happen again. I don’t think any South Australian really buys the proposition that this is about the environment. The SMA itself warns patrons at the ground not to use dangerous projectiles.
“The onus is on the SMA to be upfront with the SA public about its real reasons for this change.’’
SA Unions secretary Dale Beasley said the changes will have “serious implications for workers and patrons”.
“Every workplace must conduct a serious risk assessment and consult workers before implementing changes which could harm and injure them, and the Adelaide Oval is no different,” Mr Beasley said.
“There’s currently no evidence that any health and safety assessment has been made before the Adelaide Oval sought to have their liquor license changed to allow for the sale of tinned beer.”
Adelaide Oval’s move to bring cans back to the footy comes after the MCG began a trial in May to sell cans in some sections of the Melbourne venue.
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