There are clear standards and guidelines for licensees to follow when advertising or promoting liquor sale or events.
The way alcohol is promoted and sold influences patrons, the way they consume alcohol and how they behave. Some drink promotions can encourage the excessive and irresponsible consumption of alcohol, which in turn contributes to:
When advertising and promoting events through websites and social media channels, like Facebook and Twitter, licensees must be aware that the responsible liquor advertising and promotions guidelines, set out by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) apply. This includes advertisements and promotions created by promoters for licensees and any comments made by third parties.
The VCGLR has the power to ban advertisements or promotions that are deemed inappropriate and may also seek to vary, suspend or cancel a licence that is found to be encouraging the irresponsible consumption of alcohol.
Licensees who do not comply with a banning notice are committing a criminal offence and can face penalties. For more information, please download the Breaches under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 fact sheet (PDF, 428KB).
The VCGLR will consider whether the promotion is in the public interest. Responsible advertising and promotion of liquor plays an important part in minimising harm to customers and to the broader community. It also makes good business sense for licensees and for the sustainability of the hospitality industry in Victoria.
Anyone concerned with the drink promotions being offered by Victorian licensed venues please submit your enquiry using the contact us form.
The following list of promotions banned by the VCGLR are in order of the banning notice date.
Licensee/venue | Promotion | Banning notice |
Snatch Pty Ltd Trading as "Tramp Bar" Basement Level 14-20 King Street Melbourne | The use of advertising or promotion appearing on the Licensee's website. The video depicts the following:
|
21-07-2015 |
124 079 072 Pty Ltd (Licensee) Trading as "Asian Beer Café" Lot3/311 Melbourne Central Cnr Swanston & Latrobe Street Melbourne | The use of the advertising as follows:
|
17-03-2015 |
Snatch Pty Ltd (Licensee) Trading as “Tramp Bar” Basement, Level 14-20 Kings Street Melbourne | The use of advertising as follows:
|
10-09-2014 |
Jonathan Robert Masterson (nominee) Open Door Pub Co Pty Ltd trading as The Hawthorn 481 Burwood Road Hawthorn |
|
02-05-2014 |
Skinny Babbage Pty Ltd trading as Mordialloc Supper Club 539 Main Street Mordialloc | Advertising and promoting the conduct of the licensed premises in a way that objectifies women or men and is not in the public interest. The advertisement depicting female genitalia giving birth to the ‘Mordy Supper Club’ logo to promote the opening of Mordy Supper Club’s new bar on Australia Day. | 20-01-2014 |
Licensee/venue | Promotion | Banning notice |
Mynt Pty Ltd trading as Mynt 185 Watton Street Werribee |
|
09-07-2013 |
Melbourne Hospitality Group Pty Ltd trading as Spearmint Rhino 14-20 King Street Melbourne | Advertisement stating ‘law enforcement always free, show your ID at reception for free entry every night at Spearmint Rhino’. | 14-05-2013 |
Bendigo Bat and Ball Pty Ltd and Curpol Pty Ltd trading as Albert Hotel, Universal or Universal on McCrae 131 McCrae Street Bendigo |
|
26-10-2012 |
Valve Trading Pty Ltd trading as Jett Black or Jettblk 177 Greville Street Prahran |
|
28-09-2012 |
Licensee/venue | Promotion | Banning notice |
Michael Schreiber, CEO Strike at QV Pty Ltd Strike City Level 1, 296 and Level 2, 249-252 QV Development 210 Lonsdale Street Melbourne | Discover your inner child. Then feed it booze. | 20-06-2011 |
Matt Holman (Nominee) Base Backpackers Pty Ltd Red Eye Bar 17 Carlisle and 6 Irwell Street St Kilda |
Promotion – the promotion of periods of time where free alcohol is being supplied at the Premises:
|
25-11-2010 |
David Hudson Carriston Pty Ltd Sandringham Uncorked Wines 7D Bay Road Sandringham |
|
25-09-2010 |
David Carlisle Christenson Upfront Concepts Pty Ltd Room 680 680 Glenferrie Road Hawthorn |
|
19-01-2010 |
Xiu Hua Pan F.M. Karaoke Bar 146-150 Bourke Street Melbourne | Supply of alcohol being spirits greater than 35% alcohol per volume in bottles of 700ml or more to patrons | 11-01-2010 |
Licensee/venue | Promotion | Banning notice |
Neverland Entertainment Precinct Melbourne 32-40 Johnson Street South Melbourne | Advertising blog for “DJ Dan’s guest list” advertising that the premises are licensed to hold in excess of 2000 patrons. | 16-12-2009 |
Victoria Cellars (Vic) Pty Ltd Kings Creek Hotel 1989 Frankston-Flinders Road Hastings | Ladies Drink Free on Thursday nights as do first 20 males dressed as females. | 9-11-2009 |
Riceboy Pty Ltd Element Lounge Queen Street Melbourne | Supply of alcohol being spirits greater than 35% alcohol per volume in bottles of 700ml or more to patrons. | 14-10-2009 |
Jandalor Pty Ltd Blue Martini First Floor, 5 & 11A James Street, Geelong | Provision of cocktails sold in quantities of two standard drinks or greater. | 01-10-2009 |
Saint Hotel Pty Ltd Saint Hotel 54 Fitzroy Street St Kilda | No Undie Sundie. | 18-09-2009 |
Dirty Nominees Pty Ltd | Slab Cab – Stay at Home and Order In - depicting a naked female and posted on the Slab Cab website. | 14-08-2009 |
Bilmor Holdings Pty Ltd Tramp 14-20 King Street Melbourne | World Famous Titty Jugs. Supply of alcoholic cocktails in jugs 1.8 litres or greater. | 03-08-2009 |
Euro Bar – Freshwater Place Pty Ltd 17-33 Queensbridge Street Southbank | Supply of alcohol being spirits greater than 35% alcohol per volume in bottles of 700ml or more to patrons. | 18-06-2009 |
Cho Gao (Melb Central) Pty Ltd Level 3, Melbourne Central 211 Latrobe Street Melbourne | Toss the Boss. | 09-06-2009 |
52 Albert Road Pty Ltd Seven Nightclub 52 Albert Street South Melbourne | Supply of alcohol being spirits greater than 35% alcohol per volume in bottles of 700ml or more to patrons. | 28-05-2009 |
Partyworld International Pty Ltd Level 3, Melbourne Central 211 Latrobe Street Melbourne | Supply of alcohol being spirits greater than 35% alcohol per volume in bottles of 700ml or more to patrons. | 30-04-2009 |
Peter Winters Amber Lounge The Basement, 390 Lonsdale Street Melbourne | Supply of alcohol being spirits greater than 35% alcohol per volume in bottles of 700ml or more to patrons. | 16-04-2009 |
Open Door Pub Co Pty Ltd Caseys Nightclub Glenferrie Road Hawthorn | Toss the Boss. | 04-03-2009 |