An ALH venue is under fire after a regular patron, with autism, was denied service for suspected intoxication.
21-year-old James Paradiso is an IT student and a regular at the Brass Monkey, in Perth.
Last week he entered the pub, only to be asked by a barperson how much he had already had to drink.
Paradiso explained he has just arrived and not been drinking, but was told he appeared to have had too many and was instead given a glass of water.
This is reportedly the second time he has been refused service at a licensed premise.
Spokesperson for ALH, David Curry, offered apologies, explaining the refusal of service was a mistake, and an “isolated occasion”, triggered by a new employee at the venue.
The incident highlights the pressure put on hospitality staff to not serve someone that could be deemed intoxicated, staff sometimes forced to make a quick assessment of a stranger.
Paradiso is appealing for more public awareness of people with disabilities, telling ABC Radio Perth they just want to be able to things other people do.
“I hope it doesn’t happen to anyone else, what happened to me.”
