Temora Hotel in the NSW Riverina has been ordered to close for two weeks and individuals are facing charges, following the death of an intoxicated teenager who had been drinking at the pub.
Around 6am on Saturday, 21 March this year, police were called to a stretch of road near Sebastopol, which is between Temora and Junee, in response to reports a Landcruiser ute had left the road and rolled several times.
The only occupant of the vehicle was a 17-year-old male from Wee Waa, who had been thrown in the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation followed and police believe the young man was served 20 schooners of beer and four rum and cokes at the Hotel, engaging with staff but at no stage asked for ID during the seven hours he was on the premises.
CCTV footage reportedly shows him leaving and getting into a car with another male. Witnesses attest the pair then attended a house party, where the young man was seen to be highly intoxicated and not provided with more alcohol.
The man is thought to have left the party by himself and driven around Temora for hours before the fatal collision on the outskirts of nearby Sebastopol.
Contributing factors in the crash were determined to have been intoxication, speed and driver error, and police say high levels of ecstasy were later found in his bloodstream.
The fact the man was underage prompted special consideration by the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA).
“The matter is subject to a police investigation and a coronial inquest, with the authority’s decision to suspend the hotel’s licence triggered by the (alleged) sale of alcohol to a minor,” said ILGA chairman Philip Crawford.
Last month police brought a total of 25 charges against the hotel, the licensee and the 24-year-old man who left the pub with the victim.
The owner of the hotel faces 16 charges: 11 counts of sell liquor to a minor on licensed premises, two counts of person related to licensed premises supply liquor, licensee sell/supply liquor to intoxicated person, and two counts of licensee fail to comply with conditions of licence.
Licensee of the Hotel is a 29-year-old woman, who has been charged with three counts of sell liquor to a minor on licensed premises, two counts of person related to licensed premises supply liquor, and licensee sell/supply liquor to intoxicated person.
The other Temora Hotel patron was charged with three counts of supplying liquor to a minor.
Riverina Police District Commander Superintendent Bob Noble lamented the sequence of events, while stipulating the licensee was not being blamed for the death of the teenager.
“It was very tragic and I think we want to remind all licensees they need to be extremely vigilant in terms of their responsibilities.
“The young person made the decision to get behind the wheel of the car while he was intoxicated. Certainly his judgement would have been significantly affected by the fact he was intoxicated.”
Those facing charges are currently free on bail and will appear again before the court early in 2021.
The Hotel is to remain closed for 14 days, from 24 December to 7 January.
