ROMANO'S Hotel has been fined $7700 and given a strike under the Liquor Act's three strikes legislation after a police investigation revealed several minors had been frequenting the popular nightspot.
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It is the first strike the hotel has received under the policy, however, the consequences could have been much worse, according to Wagga police licensing supervisor Sergeant Nigel Turney.
"This investigation could potentially have seen the hotel's liquor licence and gaming suspended for 12 months, which would have been a significant financial burden on the owner and seen up to 40 hotel staff unemployed through the actions of the minors," he said.
"It is a culture that needs to change - young people who commit these offences need to understand that there are consequences to their actions, not only to themselves but for the licensed premises involved."
Wagga licensing police have been investigating management, supervision and responsible service of alcohol practices at Romano's since late 2012 and on Thursday finalised their investigation.
The investigation, using Facebook and police systems, positively identified 15 minors who had been frequenting the hotel during that period.
Police suspect the total number of minors accessing the hotel illegally may have exceeded 30 and more than 250 offences against the minors, licensee and hotel staff had been looked into as part of the investigation.
Romano's licensee Wayne Mutton admitted there had been a "breakdown in procedure" at the hotel and has pledged to work with police to ensure access procedures to the venue are tightened.
"We recognise it shouldn't have happened - it's happened and we're working pretty hard to fix that," he said.
"We've made some changes with the laneway and the hotel so people can't sneak in that way and we've changed some of the door systems.
"The procedures we were following had been in place for many years and never created an issue."
Wagga police superintendent Bob Noble said he was pleased with the way the hotel and Mr Mutton worked with police as the investigation progressed, despite the disappointing nature of the offences.
"They're very focused on preventing any further occurences," he said.
"It's pleasing to work with a licensee that's like that and wants to be part of the solution."
Police interviewed 11 of the minors identified, who were dealt with by cautions under the Young Offenders Act and cautions under the Liquor Act.
According to police, the investigation revealed a "negative culture" pervading among a small number of schools in the Wagga area in relation to complying with alcohol laws.
