Bars support tougher rules

Blenheim bar owners have backed calls by the family of Matt Heagney for more stringent rules to keep bar patrons safe.

But Hospitality Association of New Zealand (HANZ) national president Bruce Robertson said it would never be practical to train every bar employee.

Matt Heagney was fatally injured in or outside Shapeshifters bar on August 23. Police are still investigating the cause of his death, but it is understood Mr Heagney was leaving the bar when he was injured. He died a short time later in Wairau Hospital.

In an earlier incident in 2005, Cedric George Joyce died outside the former Copper Bock bar in Scott St after he was restrained by bouncers. Two security staff were acquitted of manslaughter charges.

All bar managers and duty managers must have approved qualifications, but general bar staff do not need formal training.

Mr Robertson said HANZ promoted door staff training in conjunction with the Accident Compensation Corporation to improve bar-patron safety and supported the registration of door staff.

"This is a tragic circumstance, but from a practical perspective, it's just not going to happen to have every staff member that's working in licensed premises trained."

Mr Robertson yesterday presented a HANZ submission in support of proposed legislation making training for bouncers mandatory.

Marlborough's hospitality association president Lyn McQuillan said she would raise the Heagney family's views at a national level and at the next Marlborough Alcohol Advisory Committee meeting, but noted it was up to individual business owners or managers to implement training.

Mrs McQuillan said it would take a lot of "nutting out" to implement compulsory training, but conceded it was possible, considering New Zealand is fairly highly regulated.

Mrs McQuillan's son, Ryan, owns Blenheim's Cornerstone bar. She said all Cornerstone staff regularly attended training courses on host responsibility, which included making sure patrons were not intoxicated and safely dealing with those who were, a crucial part of liquor licensing requirements.

"Host responsibility is something we stamp on our staff."

Paddy Barry's Bar owner Paul McElhinney said after Mr Joyce's death, all his male staff, including bouncers and one bar attendant, were sent on a training course with a martial-arts expert. He said the training included safe self-defence methods and restraint tactics.

The training course had since been repeated to refresh skills, Mr McElhinney said.

Female staff did not need the training, because they were rarely confronted with situations in which it was necessary, and bar policy meant a bouncer was always nearby to help, he said.

He said all staff working after 1.30am should undergo training, because that was generally when trouble began.

"I think at 2am the whole of town should be shut. With three bars open until 3am, everyone's struggling to get taxis, milling around, looking for something to do."

Paddy Barry's closes at 1.30am.

Fairweathers co-owner Warren Croft said things had reached an "unacceptable level" and it was time to register all door staff to ensure proper training.

Mr Heagney's death highlighted the need for improved people management skills, he said.

"I can only endorse their [the family's] comments really. It's an absolute tragedy for the family and for Blenheim."

Kokomo Beach Bar owner Larry Newman said patron safety came down to how owners and managers ran their bars, but there was also an element of patron responsibility. He said Mr Heagney had been in his bar occasionally and was well liked by staff and patrons.

"I'm quite saddened by the whole scenario and so are my staff. He [Mr Heagney] was never any trouble."

The owners of Shapeshifters could not be reached for comment.

- The Marlborough Express