Members’ clubs and restaurants that flout the terms of their liquor licence will be stripped of their ability to sell alcoholic beverages, the Liquor Licensing Authority has warned.

The caution from LLA chairman Juan Wolffe comes as the authority prepares to hold a series of hearings next week to determine whether clubs and other businesses should have their licences renewed.

Mr Wolffe told The Royal Gazette that some membership clubs had morphed into “hangouts for gang members” that were rife with lewd and antisocial behaviour.

He said the LLA was also determined to crack down on restaurants — operating under restaurant liquor licences — but transforming into nightclubs and dance halls after 10pm.

“Members’ clubs licences are the least expensive to obtain, but have the widest privileges,” Mr Wolffe said.

“This is all the more reason why they should comply with the conditions of the law and of their licences, such as providing to the Liquor Licence Authority minutes of their meetings, subscription books, accounts, and memberships books.

“The authority does not receive documentation from certain establishments, he said, leaving it unable to determine “whether these members’ clubs are, in fact, bona fide members’ clubs”.

“In fact, what we have found is that some of them are simply watering holes for any member of the public,” Mr Wolffe added.

“It also appears that the entrance requirements of some of the members’ clubs are lax or non-existent and often attract individuals who engage in violent or sexual activity on club premises. This has caused the LLA a great deal of concern — and so whereas, in the past when we have been flexible with members’ clubs, which may not have been compliant, this year we will be applying the law much more strictly.”

Mr Wolffe maintained that the LLA would work with establishments to ensure they were not in contravention of the law, but it was determined to send out a strong message that contempt for the regulations would not be tolerated. This month, the LLA will also be focusing its attention on preventing establishments from serving alcohol to minors and putting the brakes on establishments that hold restaurant liquor licences, but effectively “morph into nightclubs” after 10pm.

“Basically, the dining room tables are pushed aside, a dancing floor is created, a DJ starts playing music, and dancing occurs up to 3am in the morning,” Mr Wolffe said.

“Restaurant licences do not allow for such activity to take place and therefore restaurants must apply for a nightclub licence if they wish for such activity to occur. We suspect that the reason why some restaurants do not apply for a nightclub licence is because it attracts a $4,000 application fee and it has certain conditions attached as to layout, security staff and CCTV. However, it is unfair for establishments which have followed the law and applied for a proper nightclub licence and paid the requisite fee to compete with establishments who flout the law by turning their restaurants into nightclubs after 10pm. Therefore, in this licensing period, we will be looking more closely at these restaurants and, if necessary, setting strict conditions upon them in the absence of them applying for a proper nightclub licence.

“It has always been our desire to assist licensed premises. However, it is increasingly difficult to do so when some licensed premises blatantly break the law. We are not a moral authority telling people not to consume alcohol. However, as the LLA, it is our responsibility to ensure that there is responsible sale and consumption of alcohol in licensed premises.”