Bar owners in Guyana have been granted the authority to call the police on drunk patrons who attempt to get behind the wheel when leaving establishments. This comes as part of the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act 2022, which imposes obligations on intoxicating licence holders to play a more active role in preventing drinking and driving.
According to the Legal Affairs Ministry, under the new legislation, bar owners and their servants are required to verify the age of a person before selling intoxicating liquor to them or allowing them into any bar on the licensed premises.
Additionally, license holders must discourage drinking and driving by not selling or giving intoxicating liquor to a drunken person and not selling, giving, or bartering intoxicating liquor to a person likely to leave the premises by driving unless that person has identified another person as the designated driver of the motor vehicle.
Furthermore, if a drunken person attempts to drive or is in charge of a motor vehicle on the road or other public place, license holders must inform the nearest police station and request their immediate assistance. Signs discouraging drinking and driving must be posted at conspicuous places on the licensed premises, and announcements must be made at regular intervals on the premises that persons should not drink and drive.
Failure to comply with these obligations will result in charges and prosecution. The Amendment Act increases fines for breach of these obligations by the license holder to G$100,000 for the first offense and G$200,000 for a second offense. Section 56 of the Principal Act has also been amended to require license holders to refuse admission to any person who is drunk, violent, quarrelsome or disorderly into their licensed premises.
Bar owners are encouraged to obtain copies of the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act 2022, which can be obtained at an affordable price from the Parliament Office, Public Buildings, or accessed for free on the website of the Official Gazette. With this new authority, bar owners can help prevent the dangers of drinking and driving and keep their customers and the public safe.