Coffs Harbour Liquor Accord: 11 more barred from venues

People who carry on like a pork chop at the local pub or club will be sidelined for a long time - as an alliance of licensed venues and police is determined to make a night out safe and fun for the great majority. Here’s how it works.

Eleven more people - including a teenager - have been slapped with stay away notices from licensed venues on the Coffs Coast.

People who behave poorly can be barred from hotels, clubs, bottle shops and other licensed destinations such as restaurants under the Coffs Harbour Liquor Accord.

The latest to be given their marching orders include a 17-year-old girl who attempted to buy alcohol using an older friend’s driver’s licence as proof-of-age identification.

It didn’t work - and she is now on the outer until she turns 19 after copping a two-year ban.

Coast Hotel general manager Brent Culkin said the majority of local licensed venues were in the accord, which has a ‘banned-from-one, banned-from-all’ policy.

He said the accord had taken a zero tolerance stance toward violent and anti-social behaviour - whether that be directed at fellow punters or venue staff.

“We’re trying to provide a safe environment where everyone can attend and enjoy themselves,” Mr Culkin said.

If a venue seeks to have someone barred, they refer the matter to the accord committee who review the allegation and can issue bans of up to three years.

“I’ve been in the industry for 15 years at Coffs Harbour at a range of venues and you can see the benefits of having a no-d***head policy,” he said.

He said there were now minimal incidents at Coffs licensed premises, thanks to the accord.

“It’s really paid off for the Coffs Harbour region,” Mr Culkin said.

The most common offence was threatening behaviour, followed by malicious damage and drunk and disorderly, he said.

The accord committee is made-up of licensees and police - and while people can appeal if they’ve been barred, the prevalence of security cameras is often telling.

With 11 added to the list at the February meeting of the accord, there are now 85 who are excluded from visiting their ‘local’.

Mr Culkin said the effect of being barred was far reaching, and not unlike being in a Covid lockdown.

“It covers attending things like functions and weddings too (at the venues),” he said.

“We’re just trying to educate the community, especially the younger community.”

There are four liquor accords within the Coffs Clarence Police District - Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Grafton and Lower Clarence.