Liquor losers

By Tania Martin
A MONTROSE bed and breakfast owner has slammed a limited use liquor licence hike as ‘unreasonable’.
Goodwood Cottages’ Robyn Fung has called for Liquor Licensing Victoria to reassess the increase, which amounts to more than a 400 per cent jump since last year.
But the State Government has defended the move, saying its part of a new risk-based licensing system to address alcohol-related violence.
Ms Fung said the price had gone from $93 to $397 a year for the renewable limited licence.
She said for many bed and breakfast operators, alcohol was not their core business but was offered as part of a package for guests.
Ms Fung said tourism in the Dandenongs had already been hugely impacted by the Black Saturday fires.
She currently offers a free bottle of wine as part of weekend packages.
When Ms Fung’s renewal arrived in late November, she was shocked at the massive increase.
She went straight to the Department of Justice website to see if there was any justification.
“They talk a lot about reducing or tackling alcohol-related harm but it didn’t mention any specific premises,” Ms Fung said.
“It’s not worth us continuing to offer alcohol if we give away six bottles a year for $397, the benefit is just not there any more.”
Ms Fung said the new fees would represent a weekend’s taking for many bed and breakfasts in the hills.
“That’s just ludicrous,” she said. “There is no other business that would have to pay a week’s takings for a liquor licence.”
Dandenong Ranges Tourism’s Michael Axel said this price hike could drive many to offer alcohol illegally without a licence.
Mr Axel said it could also lead to bed and breakfast operators withdrawing the perk.
“It would mean operators no longer offer their guests a complimentary port on arrival or bottle of wine or champagne,” he said.
Mr Axel said bed and breakfast operators were paying the price for trying to curb alcohol-fuelled violence in Melbourne’s CBD.
“Hopefully this is just an oversight on their part and they will review it,” Mr Axel said.
But a Department of Justice spokeswoman said the new price structure ensured venues that contributed the most to alcohol-related harm paid a higher fee.
“As a consequence, venues which pose less risk to the community, such as bed and breakfasts, have the lowest base fee applicable under the licence categories,” she said.
The spokeswoman acknowledged the bed and breakfast industry played an important part in the state’s tourism industry and said it would take time for them to adjust to the new fee system.
“But the privilege of holding a liquor licence requires licensees to adhere to strict responsibilities under Victorian law,” she said.
The spokeswoman said small businesses with five or fewer full-time employees including bed and breakfasts and non-profit organisations were able to apply to have their fees waived or reduced under serious financial hardship.
But Ms Fung said applying for financial hardship was not an option for many hills operators.
“It’s just not appropriate for us,” she said. “There may be some who as the result of bushfires are suffering hardship, but for most it wouldn’t apply.”
Ms Fung said she had no problem paying for a liquor licence but in relation to the other fees she pays, this price hike was unreasonable.