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Enforcement actions - Liquor industry

The Victorian Liquor Commission takes enforcement action to ensure compliance with the law through specific and general deterrence.

The Victorian Liquor Commission's enforcement takes enforcement action to ensure compliance with the law through specific and general deterrence.

The Victorian Liquor Commission has a graduated response to enforcement. Sanctions applied by the commission for non-compliance increase:

  • with the severity of the breach including the degree of culpability of the offender and the risk or harm to the community from the breach
  • if non-compliance continues or is repeated.

Referrals to other agencies

All matters relevant to infringements outside the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 will be referred to the appropriate enforcement agency. The commission will cooperate with the requests of those agencies and provide statements and evidence if required to do so.

Relationship with Victoria Police

The Victorian Liquor Commission operates in conjunction with Victoria Police, allowing the police to focus on the most serious examples of infringements of liquor laws and areas where known issues of violence and antisocial behaviour have occurred.

Compliance inspectors provide enforcement support to Victoria Police, working in partnership with them and exercising similar powers to enforce liquor licensing laws.

Inspectors can not arrest anyone, however they may enter a private home if they have a search warrant (this requires approval) or if the private home is situated on the licensed premises and the inspector has prior consent from the licensee to enter.

Enforcement actions tools

No action

Inspectors may not find any issues of non-compliance or they may use their discretion in reviewing the circumstances of the issue/s of non-compliance to take no further action.

Note: These tools may be used independently or in combination to achieve the appropriate outcome of compliance.

Risk management discussion

Used to highlight to licensees the areas of operation or practices that need to be addressed. It is not designed to deal with infringements under the Act or licence conditions but to manage the potential risks. Discussions can be used in conjunction with other enforcement options such as infringement or warning notices.

This discussion may include a verbal warning.

Disciplinary action

Issues of non-compliance that require suspension or the disqualification of a licence is usually of a serious nature. The approval from the Victorian Liquor Commission is required before any disciplinary action occurs.

Disciplinary action is focused on altering the behaviour for the protection of the public through a more tailored response specific to the licensee.

A list of disqualified persons or companies can be found at the bottom of this page.

Criminal prosecution

Investigations take place when a serious or deliberate infringement of licence conditions occurs. An example includes the unlicensed sale of liquor or the supply of liquor in a manner other than what is on the liquor licence. In some cases, investigations can result in court proceedings.

Approval is required from the Victorian Liquor Commission.

Prosecutions by the Victorian Liquor Commission

Below is a summary of prosecutions by the Victorian Liquor Commission. Prosecutions are arranged by financial year and contain the:

  • name of the person or company prosecuted
  • offence committed
  • date of the court action
  • outcome of the prosecution.

Register of undertakings

We have entered into undertakings with the businesses listed below.

2 August 2024 – Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group Pty Limited

The undertaking relates to compliance with certain requirements by 29 July 2025.

Liquor - undertaking - Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group Pty Limited
PDF 137.85 KB
(opens in a new window)

17 November 2023 – NMC Concreting Pty Ltd

The undertaking relates to compliance with certain requirements by 31 December 2024.

Liquor - undertaking - NMC Concreting Pty Ltd
PDF 166.76 KB
(opens in a new window)

24 January 2017 - JDOT Pty Ltd

The undertaking relates to compliance with an acoustic report which is attached to the undertaking.

Liquor - undertaking - JDOT Pty Ltd
PDF 894.44 KB
(opens in a new window)

3 August 2015 - Jack Poon trading as Karaoke Box Hit Studio

The undertaking is in place for three years from the date of signature by all parties.

Liquor - undertaking - Jack Poon trading as Karaoke Box Hit Studio
PDF 827.65 KB
(opens in a new window)

Disqualified persons or companies

Several persons and companies have been disqualified from applying for, or holding, a liquor licence for a certain time period.

For a current list of persons and companies disqualified under the Liquor Control Act 1987 and the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998, see below.

Company / personYears of disqualificationDate fromDate to
Steven Kyriacou (pursuant to s93D (1) (e)1 year1 July 202230 June 2023
Tomas Mesfun (pursuant to s93D (1) (e)1 year1 July 202230 June 2023
SP Burke Pty Ltd5 years13 February 202013 February 2025
Stephen Paul BURKE (SP Burke Pty Ltd) pursuant to 93D(1)(a)-(f)”5 years13 February 202013 February 2025
CAFÉ HOLDINGS PTY LTD pursuant to s92Life30 December 2010Life
John NICHOLS (Blarney’s Celtic Affair) - pursuant to s92(1)(a)-(f)15 years1 May 20091 May 2024
Duc CAO (323 Restaurant & Bar Karaoke) - pursuant to section 92(1)(a)-(f)15 years22 May 200922 May 2024
Paul PAVLOVSKI (The Geelong Hotel) pursuant to s92(1)(a)-(e)15 years30 November 200930 November 2024
Kon ROUSSOS (La Porchetta) - pursuant to section 92(1) and sub - sections 92(1)(a)-(f) inclusive15 years2 September 20082 September 2023
Philip KALOS (La Porchetta, Colac) - pursuant to section 92(1) and sub - sections 92(1)(a)-(f) inclusive15 years2 September 20082 September 2023
Jack DOUMANI (Red Lion Hotel, Kilmore) - pursuant to section 92(1)(a)-(f) inclusive15 years17 November 200817 November 2023
Alexander MARKOVSKI (Gajda Junior Café & Grill Pty Ltd] pursuant to section 92(1)(a) to (f)15 years16 October 200816 October 2023
Dwayne Michael LORD (Inkerman Hotel) - pursuant to s92(1)(a) to (f)20 years8 May 20078 May 2027
Simon SAYFE (Hugo Lounge Melbourne) - pursuant to s92(1)(a)-(f)20 years25 July 200725 July 2027
Colin OCCHIETTI (Backstreet Bar)25 years22 June 200122 June 2026
Denis SMITHLife28 September 2000Life
Kerry ASHFORDLife26 October 2000Life

Updated