Re-entry pass systems for licensed premises

Licensees of regulated premises can introduce a re-entry pass system to allow patrons to leave and re-enter the same premises during the same trading period without being re-scanned.

All patrons entering a licensed venue must have their photo ID scanned on entry during regulated hours, unless a suitable re-entry pass system applies when:

  • the person has already been scanned upon entry to the premises during regulated hours
  • the licensee applied or issued to the person a suitable re-entry pass for the trading period
  • the person has on them or in their possession a suitable re-entry pass.

Your re-entry pass system must be in writing, available for inspection by an investigator at the premises and include details of the type of re-entry passes to be used.

Re-entry pass requirements

The re-entry pass can be an identifying mark applied (e.g. stamp), an object issued (e.g. wristband) or a type of electronic identification (applied or issued). The re-entry pass must:

  • be unique to the premises and to each trading period
  • be identifiable as a re-entry pass
  • not be able to be falsified, copied or transferred from one person to another.

The advice below is for when an identifying mark applied (e.g. a stamp) is used as a re-entry pass. Should you wish to use an object issued (e.g. wristband) or type of electronic identification, contact us to discuss requirements before introducing to your venue.

Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) officers are available to review any proposed re-entry system to assess its suitability, if requested.

Consider these factors when designing or choosing an identifying mark as a re-entry pass for your premises

You will need to decide:

  • the type of pass
  • how it's unique to the premises
  • how it identifies the trading period.

Acceptable identifying mark

  • The stamp should consist of an image or design that includes the name of the premises in some form and the date of the trading period.

If stamps are already in use to indicate entry to the premises before 10pm, including those patrons that have not been scanned, the stamp used for re-entry must be different to normal entry stamps. Consider using different colours of ink and adding wording (e.g. Re-entry pass).

We will accept day of the trading period (e.g. Friday, Saturday) being shown on the stamp instead of a date, as long as you can ensure a stamp imprinted on a person one week cannot be accepted the following week as a valid re-entry pass. Water soluble ink must be used. We will monitor the use of this type of stamp and may deem insufficient if issues are identified.

Unacceptable identifying mark

  • A stamp that has not been individually designed for the premises, e.g. a stamp from a range that has been produced in mass and available for public purchase.
  • A stamp comprising only of the name of the premises used together with a variety of ink colours.

    • To make sure the re-entry pass is secure for use, evaluate:

    • the complexity of the design or system
    • how to apply or issue it.

    Acceptable design and application

    • The stamp should have a custom design and be manufactured exclusively for the premises.
    • The ink used should not allow the stamp to be transferred between persons without it being obvious to an observer (i.e. it is faded and not from the original application) – for example, fast-drying, water-soluble ink.
    • The stamp should be applied to the same spot (e.g. inside left wrist).

    Insufficient design and application

    • The stamp is symmetrical, so it could allow for a single-step transfer from one patron to another.
    • The ink used enables the easy transfer between persons.
    • The image and premises name on the stamp is simple and easily copied (e.g. through drawing with a marking pen).

    Only patrons who have already been scanned during regulated hours (10pm to close, as standard) should be issued with a re-entry pass during each trading period.

    • Patrons may be given the re-entry pass when first scanned during regulated hours.
    • Patrons requesting a re-entry pass can only be given one when it's confirmed the person has already been scanned during regulated hours.
    • If it's not certain that a person has been scanned during regulated hours, scan the patron again before issuing a re-entry pass.

    Acceptable issuing practice

    The venue only applies the stamp to the person after 10pm in conjunction with the person being scanned and identified as not subject to a banning order for the premises.

    Insufficient issuing practice

    The person is stamped on exit after 10pm without confirmation the person was scanned earlier that evening during regulated hours.

    You should consider including responses to the following points about the daily operation of the system in your re-entry pass system document.

    • When and how will the unique combination of the re-entry pass be determined and recorded, who makes this decision and when and how will the relevant staff be advised?
    • Which suitably trained staff members will be responsible for the application or issuance of the re-entry pass?
    • Who will be responsible for the assessment of the re-entry pass when a patron re-enters the premises?
    • Which date will be used for the re-entry pass (i.e. the date the trading period commences or concludes)?
    • How will patrons re-entering the premises using a re-entry pass be managed (e.g. using a separate queue or alternate entry point)?
    • How and when will relevant staff exposed to or responsible for the operation of the re-entry pass system be adequately trained to use it?
    • What is the venue's policy if there is any doubt about the validity of the re-entry pass presented by a patron (e.g. scan the patron's ID again)?
    • What security controls will be in place for the re-entry passes to prevent them being accessed by patrons to distribute, copy etc.?

    Example

    The Place 2B (TP2B), a licensed venue, operates a re-entry system on:

    • all Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights
    • the eve of public holidays
    • other nights during regulated hours as determined by management.

    TP2B has a single entry point to the premises. Queueing areas are designated by a rope, running parallel and placed approximately 1.5m from the premises wall, allowing ample space on the footpath for pedestrians to pass. A separate queue is maintained when patron re-entry is operating.

    TP2B uses a stamp as the re-entry pass. The stamp is a self-inking stamp using fast-drying, water-soluble red ink, showing the venue logo and stating 're-entry pass' and the relevant trading period date.

    Example re-entry pass stamp, reading 'TP2B; Re-entry pass; 06.03.2020'.

    When the re-entry system is operating TP2B will make sure:

    • the date used for the stamp is the date the trading period commences
    • patrons who want a re-entry pass will have the stamp applied immediately after their ID has been successfully scanned if the scan indicates the patron is not subject to a banning order for the premises and the patron is not being denied entry for any other reason
    • stamps are only issued where the scan has been performed after 10pm
    • re-entry stamp is to be applied to the inside right wrist of patrons
    • no person leaving the venue will be issued a re-entry stamp without first having their ID successfully scanned
    • only staff members who have been suitably trained in the operation of the re-entry pass system are responsible for
      • the application of the re-entry stamp
      • determining the authenticity of a re-entry stamp presented by a patron
    • if there is any doubt as to the validity of the stamp, then the patron will be required to re-scan their ID
    • all stamps are secured by management in the office safe in a timely manner when not in use.

    Also, the stamp will not provide automatic right of entry to the venue and patrons may be required to re-scan their ID upon re-entry at the discretion of management or the crowd controller.

    Training

    At induction, all staff, including crowd controllers, will be trained on the venue's re-entry system and on the role each of them play in its operation. The system operation is a standing agenda item at each 6-monthly refresher training course, which is mandatory for all staff to attend.

    A sign will also be placed at the staff sign-in point, advising that the re-entry system will be in place on that trading day.

    • Last reviewed: 27 Feb 2020
    • Last updated: 10 Jun 2020