‘Emu run’ tarnishes hotel’s clean record

After more than 30 years without a record, the owners of the Roebuck Bay Hotel were ordered to pay a minor fine in Broome Magistrate’s Court last week.

Licensee Hermal Pty Ltd had been charged with permitting drunkenness on licensed premises.

The charge resulted from observations by plain-clothed Broome Police officers of an intoxicated man on New Year’s Eve, December 31 last year.

Police prosecutor Matt Fearnley told the court the officers had observed the man on the premises on at least three occasions, despite security having ejected him once.

Barrister John Prior, representing Hermal, said the man had been doing “the emu run”, not necessarily buying any alcohol at the bar but drinking the remnants of abandoned drinks – quite a different situation than hotel staff serving an intoxicated person.

Mr Prior said while it had been a busy night and a person could easily swing a leg over the veranda, it was the responsibility of the security company which was under contract to the hotel at the time to remove the man and ensure he stayed off the property.

He told the court that particular company’s contract had since been terminated and a different company had been employed.

Magistrate Colin Roberts fined Hermal $750 plus costs, despite the maximum penalty for such an offence being $50,000.

“These were somewhat unusual facts – it wasn’t a classic case of staff serving an intoxicated person – instead this person has wandered in after drinking elsewhere,” Mr Roberts said.

“The real problem occurred later when he got up off the street onto the veranda … to do the ‘emu run’ – drinking the dregs of other people’s abandoned drinks – and security failed to observe him.

“There have been no convictions (against Hermal) in a 34 year period … and in a place like Broome, with the amount people drink in the Roey, it is surprising and obviously to the credit of the company.”