This policy provides the basis for the responsible use of alcohol by the Fitzroy Football Club and is seen as fundamental to the aims of the club.

The club recognizes the importance of holding a liquor licence, enabling it to generate income and hold social functions. In doing so however, we accept the responsibilities and expectations of the community in adhering to liquor licensing laws and the criteria of the Good Sports program.

To ensure the aims of the club are upheld and that alcohol is managed responsibly by the club and its members, the following requirements will apply when alcohol is served at the club or during a club function.

Serving Alcohol

Alcohol will be served according to the legal and moral requirements of the club’s liquor licence with the safety and well being of patrons the priority.

• The Club maintains a current appropriate liquor licence
• Only RSA trained servers will serve alcohol
• Bar servers do not consume alcohol when on duty
• People under 18 will not serve alcohol
• The club does not encourage excessive or rapid consumption of alcohol
• When serving non pre-packaged alcohol, standard drink measures will be served at all times
• Information posters about Standard Drink measures will be displayed at the bar
• The liquor licence and all legal signage will be displayed at the bar
• Names of RSA trained bar staff will be displayed
• An incident register shall be maintained

Intoxicated Patrons

• Drunk patrons will not be permitted to enter the premises
• Alcohol will not be served to any person who is intoxicated or drunk
• Servers will follow RSA training procedures when refusing service
• Drunk patrons will be asked to leave the premises (after appropriate safe transport options are offered).

Underage Drinking

• Alcohol will not be served to persons aged under 18
• Servers and committee members will ask for proof of age whenever necessary or whenever in doubt
• Only photo ID’s will be accepted as ‘proof of age’.

Alcohol Alternatives

The Club recognizes that alcohol is not the only revenue stream available and actively encourages the sales of alternative products to that of alcohol.

• Tap water is provided free of charge (where available)
• At least four non-alcoholic drinks and one low-alcoholic drink options are always available and are at least 10% cheaper than full strength drinks
• Substantial food is available when the bar is open for more than 90 minutes or more than 15 people are present
• The club will avoid using alcohol for player awards and fundraising prizes.

Safe Transport

The Club has a Safe Transport Policy that is reviewed regularly in conjunction with this Alcohol Management Policy.

Smoke-Free

The Club has a Smoke-Free Policy that is reviewed regularly in conjunction with this Alcohol Management Policy.

Club Trips

The Club will monitor and ensure any club trips, particularly end of season player trips, adhere to responsible behaviour and alcohol consumption in accordance with the principles of this policy and the aims of the club.

Non Compliance

All club committee members will enforce the alcohol management policy and any non-compliance, particularly in regard to Licencing Laws will be handled according to the following process:

• Explanation of the club policy to the person/people concerned, including identification of the section of policy not being complied with
• Continued non-compliances with the policy should be handled by at least two committee members who will use their discretion as to the action taken, which may include asking the person/people to leave the club facilities or function.

Board Policy Management

The presence Board members is essential to ensure the operation of the bar and compliance with this policy. At least two board members who are RSA trained are required to be present at all club functions when the bar is open. Key responsibilities of the duty committee members are to:

• Meet visiting police, cooperate and assist with any inquiries
• Compliance in respect of persons under 18 years of age on premises
• Recording any incidents in the incidents register
• Ensuring compliance with all sections of this policy in accordance with legal requirements and the Good Sports program

Policy Promotion

The Club will promote the alcohol management policy regularly by:

• Putting a copy of the policy in club communications, e.g. newsletters, website and printed member/player information
• Displaying a copy of the policy in the club social rooms
• Periodic announcements to members at functions.

The Club recognizes the importance of educating club members, particularly players, about the benefits of an alcohol management policy and will endeavour to provide information to assist this process.

The Club will actively participate in the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program with an ongoing priority to maintain Level 3 accreditation.

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant to club operations and reflects both community expectations and legal requirements.

This policy aims to provide a basis for the responsible use and/or non use of alcohol by the Fitzroy Football Club and to avoid any incidents as people travel to or from the club and its functions.

The Club understands and accepts its responsibility to the safety or our members and friends. The following requirements will apply when alcohol is served, either at the club or during a club function.

• Bar staff shall encourage members and visitors to make alternative safe transport arrangements if they are considered to exceed .05 blood alcohol concentration (or .00 if probationary driver)
• The club will offer for free of charge to arrange a taxi or other transport for people who are considered to have exceeded .05 blood alcohol concentration (or .00 if probationary driver)
• Contact telephone numbers for taxi services will be clearly displayed
• In specific cases, where a designated driver has been nominated by the club and has accepted the responsibility to drive others home safely, the club will provide non alcoholic drinks and bar food free of charge
• Bar servers will be provided non alcoholic drinks and bar food free of charge by the club (only for club bar staff)

The Fitzroy Football Club recognizes that passive smoking is hazardous to health and those non-smoking club members and visitors have the right to be protected from exposure to tobacco smoke.

Accordingly, the following policy shall apply to all club facilities, functions, meetings and activities undertaken by the club and will apply to all members, officials, players and club visitors.

Facilities

All club facilities are to be completely smoke free and shall include:

• The social rooms inclusive of bar, kitchen, meeting room, toilets and storage area
• Player change rooms inclusive of warm up area, toilets and showers, medical room and property room.

Cigarettes will not be sold (including vending machines) at any time at or by the club.

Players, Officials & Coaches

Coaches, players, trainers, volunteers and officials will refrain from smoking while involved in an official game day capacity for the club. They will be permitted to smoke in a designated area away from supporters, players, staff and buildings only during official breaks and shall not be late returning to their duties as a result.

Functions

All club functions including social and fund raising events and meetings are to be completely smoke free:

• Ashtrays will be removed from all club facilities
• Cigarette butt bins will be provided at outdoor locations for smokers to dispose of cigarette butts before entering/re-entering smoke free areas at club facilities
• Smokers leaving the designated licensed area of the clubs social rooms will not be permitted to take alcohol from that area.

All club functions held away from the club facilities are to be completely smoke free and shall require an assurance from the venue management of compliance with the club policy before a booking is confirmed by:

• Removing all ashtrays from inside venue where function is to be held
• Enforcing a smoke free policy during the function

Invitations and advertising for functions, meetings and events will be promoted as smoke free.