Are the Lounge staff playing with me... Or are they serious!

[N860CR]

OSo another working Xmas is over here in lovely Brisbane. Fortunately I'm done intime to get the 14:00 flight back to Sydney.

I've had to laugh a bit here in the DJ lounge... I went to ask for a Peroni from the attendant who store me down and pointed to a sign stuck on the fridge (oops... Glasses in bag so I can't read it). I then receive a lovely condescending story about how due to it being "Xmas" they will not serve alcohol unless I am consuming a "substantial" meal and that a bowl of chips doesn't count. She suggested I make myself a sandwich. I was waiting for a laugh, but none came.

A little amused, I walk away and make a sandwich that will go to waste and return to ask for a beer again. I'm now told that she won't serve it unless I take a knife and fork. Seriously!

Finally... After a great effort, I obtain my one Peroni (and no way can I be bothered going for another). Not an explanation, smile or even embarrassed laugh was received from the charmer behind the bar.

Seriously... Have I just been had or are Virgin looking for new cost cutting measures. Or is there some stupid Queensland rule that I'm not aware of?

Merry Xmas to all!

 

[markis10]

Welcome to QLD licensing rules, no matter how much you travel there is always a gotcha that surprises!

Hotel in-house guests can be provided with alcohol in their room or unit. Patrons who are not in-house guests can be provided with alcohol only while eating a meal in the dining area between 10am and 12 midnight. Bottle shops and adult entertainment venues are closed. More information can be found in the 'Christmas and New Year trading hours' fact sheet (PDF 70 K).

A meal is defined as food eaten by a person at a fixed structure used as a table, with cutlery provided for the purpose of eating the food, and is of a sufficient substance to be ordinarily accepted as a meal.

http://www.olgr.qld.gov.au/resources/liquorDocs/FactSheet-ChristmasTradingHoursLicensees.pdf

 

[anchew]

Wow... just wow.

 

[N860CR]

Thanks, just googled the same thing. How utterly stupid! I often wonder what these government departments are on sometimes. You'd need to be pissed to come up with that!

Brisbane is an oddly peaceful experience at the moment otherwise. No delays inbound at all and the usual stressed voice of the controllers seemed to be gone!

 

[hydrabyss]

If I had not read that I would not have ever believed it.
I would have been looking for cameras thinking there is noway this is not a setup.Especially when they mention cutlery to eat a sandwich.

 

[N860CR]

I can't believe she kept a straight face! Even I giggled when she mentioned the knife and fork!

 

[bodog]

There's probably a team of public servants working on triple time today to enforce this legislation. After all we can't have people endangering themselves by consuming alcohol (there's no way that might be happening on Christmas day is there now)

Only in Queensland (I hope!)

 

[mannej]

WA has had similar legislation in place. Not so sure about now

 

[RWJ777]

Oh Lord, this is the old licensing law extending to way back when. It's been removed in most jurisdictions. It prevents the service of alcohol unless accompanied by a meal. Contrary to comments here, it wasn't govt depts that dreamt up this nonsense but it was demanded by the industry to protect the monopoly of licensed premises. Thankfully most of the old licensing laws are being removed in many states -- at the instigation of progressive govts and usually much resisted by segments of industry.

 

[N860CR]

I'm assuming the same went down in the QP today. The DJ lounge was quiet so it didn't cause many headaches. Could have seen it being painful at QF though.

 

[Justinf]

I was in Salt lake City, Utah two weeks ago. They have nothing on Queensland!

 

[Sprucegoose]

WA has had similar legislation in place. Not so sure about now

I thought this was removed by the current government. It is quite ridiculous

 

[yo yo ma]

I was waiting for a laugh, but none came.

I was waiting for the laugh too... just checked and it is not April 1! They surely couldn't have been serious?

 

[Mal]

Yep... Also happens on certain other days too in Queensland.

NZ has similar laws still as well, IIRC.

 

[JessicaTam]

So I take it my long held belief that because the major airports are on crown land the state licensing laws didn't apply was just that? Only a belief?

 

[tuapekastar]

Good grief! Talk about stepping back 20 or 30 years in time.

 

[mannej]

So I take it my long held belief that because the major airports are on crown land the state licensing laws didn't apply was just that? Only a belief?

I don't think that applies for domestic airports (think about service of alcohol compared to free pour in international airports.

 

[JessicaTam]

I don't think that applies for domestic airports (think about service of alcohol compared to free pour in international airports.

I guess so.

Oh well, there goes that misconception! *sigh*

 

[RWJ777]

Is it a Christmas only thing or at other times of the year? It sounds incredibly odd in this day and age. Almost like the regulation of years past that you couldn't buy petrol on Good Friday.

 

[N860CR]

According to the Qld Gov link, it's an Xmas thing. I think Virgin should have maybe worded the staff up to handle it a little better, but it's still totally stupid.

Anyone visit the QP on Xmas in BNE?