Alice Springs’ Todd Tavern slapped with ‘modest’ fine for serving schooner to drunk man

The sale of a third schooner to a patron – who could barely walk – has resulted in a Red Centre pub being slapped with a ‘modest’ fine by the Liquor Commission.

Todd Tavern in Alice Springs. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A pub right in the heart of Alice Springs has been slapped with a “modest” fine after it was busted serving schooners to a bloke who was so drunk he could hardly walk.

The Territory’s Liquor Commission hit the Todd Tavern with a fine of $1850 after liquor inspectors visited the bar earlier this year and saw the man limping and drinking schooners before he was kicked out for being too drunk.

After he was removed from the bar, the inspectors saw the man sitting outside in a public park where he was heavily intoxicated.

Todd Tavern in 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The liquor inspectors visited the pub and saw the man on January 30, and by May 28 the matter was brought to a hearing, with the Liquor Commission handing out the fine on June 20.

In the decision, delivered by Commission chairman Russell Goldflam, the “modest” fine was issued as it was determined it was “a matter at the lower end of objective seriousness on the scale of reckless misconduct”.

Russell Goldflam. Picture: Jeff Tan

At the hearing, CCTV from the pub was shown – without audio – which Mr Goldflam determined showed “the barman intentionally sold liquor” to the intoxicated patron.

“While on the premises, the patron was supplied with three schooners of beer, one of which was given to him by the friend, and two of which he purchased from the bar,” Mr Goldflam said.

The CCTV showed the patron left a metre long trail of spilt beer when walking back to his table, and was stumbling when walking through the venue before he was escorted from the premises.

The barman had 15 years’ experience working within hospitality and held responsible service of alcohol (RSA) certification, but had recently missed a company issued mandatory RSA training due to illness, Mr Goldflam said.

Todd Tavern in Alice Springs. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Goldflam also determined from the CCTV there was no “apparent instances of violent, quarrelsome, disorderly or uncontrolled behaviour” at the pub the day the drunk man was served and staff on the day “were actively and appropriately engaging with patrons”.

The Todd Tavern is owned by Iris Capital, and has previously been hauled before the Liquor Commission for a similar complaint in 2018.

In April last year, the Todd Tavern made national headlines when footage emerged of a group of people attacking the pub, smashing the windows and attempting to kick open the doors.

The incident resulted in the first of two curfews being called for Alice Springs in 2024.

Originally published as Alice Springs’ Todd Tavern slapped with ‘modest’ fine for serving schooner to drunk man