How compliance inspections work

When compliance inspections will occur

Compliance officers from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) regularly conduct unannounced liquor and gaming inspections at licensed premises in accordance with OLGR's proactive compliance program. Compliance officers may also attend a venue if a complaint is received.

Inspections are sometimes conducted with officers from the Queensland Police Service, who are also investigators under the Liquor Act 1992. In some areas police may also attend licensed premises to undertake liquor inspections without OLGR compliance officers.

What to expect during a compliance inspection

When a compliance officer attends a venue, after making preliminary observations inside and around the venue, they will ask to speak to the approved manager or the person in charge of the venue.

Compliance officers will not always complete a full inspection. For some inspections they will assess compliance with a narrower set of obligations.

At full inspections, officers will request to see a copy of your licence to check that you are complying with your licence conditions. The Liquor Act requires licensees to keep the original licence document at the premises to which it relates and the person in charge must produce it to an officer immediately upon request.

Compliance officers will also check that the licensee, management and staff are complying with legislation including (but not limited to):

  • responsible service of alcohol – including assessing whether unduly intoxicated patrons are being supplied with or allowed to consume liquor
  • safety
  • minors – including randomly checking some patrons for IDs
  • CCTV
  • crowd controllers
  • patron behaviour
  • particular gaming obligations (where gaming machines are operated).

Officers will ask the approved manager or person in charge of the premises to show items including (but not limited to):

  • license document
  • approved manager’s course (RMLV) certificates
  • Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificates for staff
  • risk-assessed management plan (RAMP)
  • incident register
  • crowd controller register
  • CCTV footage and register.

Compliance checklist

Read the compliance checklist to understand what OLGR compliance officers and police look for during inspections of licensed premises. Use this to run regular checks at your venue to help make sure you are complying with your obligations under the law.

  • [Animation]

    A compliance officer, wearing a checked shirt and glasses, appears in a licensed venue. He smiles as he observes everything looks in order. A guy is sitting at the bar as the bartender cleans glasses. The compliance officer shakes hands with the manager.

    [Voice over]

    A compliance officer has rocked up to this venue for a routine inspection. The inspector finds a glassy removing glasses.

    [Animation]

    A glassy appears and removes glasses.

    [Voice over]

    An alcoholic drink being swapped for a water.

    [Animation]

    The bartender does some fancy glass twirling as she disappears a beer and produces a glass of water.

    [Voice over]

    Clear fire safety areas, good lighting, documents in order.

    [Animation]

    A pile of documents appears in the manager's hand.

    [Voice over]

    A security guard asking for ID.

    [animation]

    Security guard nods, looking tough in black glasses and a shirt that has security written across it.

    [Voice over]

    This licensee is clearly a fighter for truth and justice.

    [Animation]

    The manager is suddenly in a superman costume.

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