The Eastern Hotel in Bondi Junction was fined $5,000 for breaching COVID-19 safety measures

Social distancing fail: Pub is fined $5,000 after three patrons sat too close while they played the pokies

  • The Eastern Hotel in Bondi Junction was fined $5,000 on Saturday August 1
  • Inspectors noted that patrons were not adhering to social distancing
  • CCTV footage shows two men sitting side-by-side at gaming machine 
  • The licensee agreed to turn off every second machine under safety measures 

CCTV footage shows why a Bondi pub was fined $5,000 for breaching COVID-19 safety measures.

Patrons at the Eastern Hotel, in Bondi Junction, were found to be sitting too close together while playing the pokies. 

The venue was found to be breach of public health orders when inspected by Liquor & Gaming NSW officials on August 1.

Two men were spotted sitting side-by-side at the gaming machines and not the recommended 1.5metre safety distance. 

The inspectors also said there was a third patron sitting opposite the two men but still in close proximity.  

The Eastern Hotel in Bondi Junction was fined $5,000 when Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors visited the pub on August 1 and noted a lack of social distancing

Liquor & Gaming NSW Director of Compliance Dimitri Argeres said the licensee will ensure COVID-19 safety measures are implemented. 

‘The manager told the inspectors that the venue had proper procedures in place to ensure gaming machine players are kept 1.5 metres apart,’ he said.

‘The licensee has since advised us that he will turn off every second machine to ensure compliance with the public health order. 

‘The time for warnings is now long gone. Venues caught doing the wrong thing can expect to be fined for the first breach and shut down for second and subsequent breaches.’

The Unity Hall Hotel in Balmain was also fined $5,000 for breaching COVID-19 safety rules. 

Liquor & Gaming NSW Director of Compliance Dimitri Argeres said the licensee will ensure COVID-19 safety measures are implemented (pictured: The Eastern Hotel in Bondi)

Liquor & Gaming NSW Director of Compliance Dimitri Argeres said the licensee will ensure COVID-19 safety measures are implemented (pictured: The Eastern Hotel in Bondi)

In NSW, pubs must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan, enforce contact tracing, space out tables and have hand sanitiser at all times to keep in line with coronavirus public health orders.  

Venues have been warned they need to fall in line with COVID-19 restrictions including customer limits and caps on group bookings or face closure.  

Ms Berejiklian said the new rules were about reducing the risk for transmission, but she said it was important to keep the state open.

Weddings will also be capped at 150 guests, and funerals will be limited to 100.

‘For weddings and corporate events, the maximum number is 150, but again, completely seated, no dancing, no singing, no mingling,’ she said.

NSW recorded nine cases of coronavirus on Saturday.

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