In Oz, a booze fine is not so fine

AT the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, a video was circulated showing revellers in full party mode at an Eastern Cape nightclub.

No masks, no social distancing… but plenty of alcohol flowing with scant regard to contamination or hangovers.

The city authorities, liquor board, and everyone up to cabinet level stamped their feet and expressed outrage at this gross violation of the regulations, and promised stern action.

In the end, a fine of R5 000 was issued; a mere slap on the wrist.

They huffed and they puffed but hardly blew the house down.

I would hardly call that a deterrent and if I was a non-compliant club owner, I would simply factor in a fine as a cost when planning my next shindig.

That seems to be par for the course when it comes to most things that require compliance: there is no law enforcement to be seen or, if by some small chance laws and bylaws are being monitored and acted upon, the penalties would hardly discourage further disobedience.

‘Comparisons are odious’, they say – a phrase that has been around since the 15th century, but the point I want to make is illustrated by liquor laws that prevail in Queensland, Australia.

By the way, although I have visited there a few times, I don’t drink so I am taking a neutral stance…as opposed to those who literally might not have a leg to stand on.

Officially, here are the stated offences and penalties Down Under for liquor licence holders:

‘Supplying alcohol to an unduly intoxicated person’ - $66 725 (around R734 000); or ‘Allowing the supply of alcohol to an unduly intoxicated person’ - $66 725; or ‘Allowing an unduly intoxicated person to consume alcohol’ -

$66 725.

So, that’s the owners and/or managers, but what about the waiters/ waitrons/waiter people?

In each category, their fine is a mere $10 676, which is about

R117 400, for serving a drunk person with more alcohol.

It kind of puts the R5 000 (approximately $455) in East London in sad perspective.

Ain’t no manager going to dare let a guy stumble out of his Aussie bar or club with car keys in hand.

That’s what I call putting lives before profits and sending out a clear deterrent message.

And before you ask: I have absolutely no idea what an ‘unduly intoxicated’ person is.