Gangnam Station restaurant in Sydney, Australia is now facing fines for dumping two unconcious women on to the street. On November 9, 2017 three women attended the Central Business District (CBD) restaurant on Sussex Street. Within forty minutes after arriving and beginning to be served, they had consumed a total of 16 shots.
The women were taking shots of ‘The Peach’ or Soju, which is Korea’s national drink. They began drinking at 7:55pm. Forty minutes later, that were seven shots in. Two of the the women began to have trouble keeping their balance while sitting up, and were saying from side to side. They were also reported to be slumped onto the table. At 8:35pm the waitress who was serving them collected their empty Soju bottles and promptly returned with a third. After one more round of shots, two of the women became completely unconscious and collapsed onto the table in front of them.
Typically, when you become unconscious at a bar you are immediately assisted and carefully treated; and rightfully so. Though in this case, other patrons and staff members carelessly carried the women out and threw them onto the street out front of the CBD restaurant. One of the two women being carried out even began vomiting. There was no immediate action. A crowd gathered outside around the women until nearby police patrolling the area noticed. At that point, they called an ambulance which took them to the hospital.
As a result, Gangnam Station is now facing a range of sanctions against them. Authorities have claimed this to be one of the worst breaches of liquor laws in the NSW in most recent years. Sean Goodchild, director of compliance at the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), said “the venue’s actions showed a blatant disregard for the health and safety of patrons and responsible service of alcohol requirements”.
This is especially scary to those who are going out for a good time and do not plan on getting blackout drunk. It is normal to expect to be treated properly in the event that something happens to you while under the influence. Mr. Goodchild said, “It’s hard to imagine a worse case of a venue failing in its obligations to prevent misuse and abuse of alcohol”. Another powerful statement given by Deputy Secretary, Paul Newson was, “For staff to think it’s okay to carry unconscious patrons out of the venue and dump them on the footpath, that is unconscionable in any measure”.
Sunhwa Kim, licensee of Gangnam Station, has been given a first strike by the authority that is under the NSW Government which has a three strike disciplinary scheme. A licensee with strikes face various forms of remedial action. Those licensees with three strikes can have their licenses suspended, and face the possibility of being permanently banned from the industry.
Anyone serving alcohol in Australia is required to participate in a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training course. Typically, it trains how to deal with intoxicated customers and how to know when you should stop serving them. Therefore, there is no reason the women should have been continuously served after showing signs of heavy intoxication; and they should not by any means been thrown out while in need of assistance.
Liquor and Gaming is now considering lowering the restaurant’s closing time from 2:00am which it is currently, to midnight. They are also considering the requirement of a security guard that is trained in “responsible service of alcohol” to be present 8:00pm to close, nightly.
While Liquor and Gaming of NSW is considering taking further action, the restaurant is also being fined $2,200 (£1,200; $1,650) by NSW Police for permitting intoxication.
Photos of the incident courtesy of Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority.
