The future of Dunedin nightclub Sammy's looks bleak after a damning report from liquor licensing and Southern District Health Board representatives.
They found, despite promises from the venue's owner, Sam Chin, in April to run the premises in accordance with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, there were a series of transgressions at a Katchafire gig last Friday.
Licensing inspector Tony Mole and SDHB liquor licensing health promotion adviser Toni Paterson said at a reconvened district licensing committee hearing that, despite very much wanting to see the premises operating properly, they left disappointed.
Alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Ian Paulin said the agencies had given Mr Chin "all the guidance we can''.
"You give him enough rope and he's hung himself.''
The hearing followed another in April, when commissioner Colin Weatherall and Crs Andrew Noone and David Benson-Pope gave Mr Chin 28 days to convince them he should continue running the venue.
At that hearing it was clear Mr Chin was unsure what patrons could legally use to provide proof of identity.
The licensing agencies and the committee, however, agreed he should be given a last chance and allowed the time to complete a training course in bar management and present a management plan to the committee.
Mr Chin told the committee yesterday those things had been done, but, despite the management plan being completed two weeks ago, aspects of what it laid out were not in evidence to the inspectors on Friday.
Mr Mole said there was a charity sausage sizzle outside, but staff at three bars inside on the night did not know what food was available, despite the venue being required to provide and promote food.
Two bars at the venue had no low-alcohol drinks available and only one provided free drinking water.
There was considerable discussion at the April hearing about concerns over pass-outs allowing punters to drink off-site, and that issue had not been dealt with.
One fire exit was found with chairs in front of it.
"I find it quite exasperating,'' Mr Mole said.
"I feel that Mr Chin's lackadaisical attitude still continues.''
Mr Chin said Mr Mole was correct in his reporting of the situation.
On the Wednesday before the event only 350 tickets had been sold, but when many more were sold later he made a mistake in not organising properly, and "panicked a bit''.
Three new staff had to be brought in and he did not have time to go over the management plan with them.
He accepted he had been "pretty slack'', but said he was "pretty sure'' in future he could stick to the management plan.
Mr Mole said Mr Chin "has to be found to be unsuitable to hold a licence''.
Ms Paterson said what she found at the venue on Friday was "a huge disappointment''.
She was hearing the same arguments Mr Chin had put forward in April.
Sgt Paulin said it was "really frustrating sitting here'' and "the application must be refused''.
Mr Weatherall said there was a need in the city for a venue like Sammy's, and asked liquor licensing co-ordinator Kevin Mechen if a condition could be imposed where an alternative manager could run the venue.
Mr Mechen said that could happen, but Sgt Paulin said even though there was another licensed manager there on Friday the problems continued.
The meeting was adjourned for the committee to make a decision, after it heard the venue had two events in the next week and another in August.
Even if the decision was made immediately, there would be a two-week appeal period in which Mr Chin could continue operating.
Mr Weatherall told him he expected ``the highest standard'' of management in that time.
