In what the Department of Liquor and Gaming called "one of the worst breaches of liquor laws in New South Wales in recent years," two women in Gangnam Station, Sydney, were dumped on the sidewalk by restaurant staff after being served 16 shots in 40 minutes.
On a Thursday last November, police records show three women entered the Korean BBQ restaurant around 8pm. In the next 40 minutes, they were served 16 shots of soju (a Korean spirit), at which point two collapsed onto the floor, unconscious.
NSW Office of Liquor and Gaming
Restaurant staff then carried the pair out of the restaurant and deposited them, without protection, on the sidewalk. One customer vomited while being moved. The entire incident was captured on a nearby security camera.
NSW Office of Liquor and Gaming
The women were later found by police surrounded by a crowd which had called an ambulance.
NSW Office of Liquor and Gaming
Sean Goodchild, director of compliance operations at the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, commented in a statement:
It's hard to imagine a worse case of a venue failing in its obligations to prevent misuse and abuse of alcohol.
Better than being locked in the restaurant, only to wake up at 3am and have to break out. https://t.co/BJ895rJR7N— Snedward Q Pistols (@Snedward Q Pistols) 1531187126.0
#GangnamStation restaurant in Sydney dumps 2 drunk women unconscious on footpath after serving them far too much al… https://t.co/R5P5qFEEvZ— Marcia Langton (@Marcia Langton) 1531142184.0
Sunhwa Kim, who owns the restaurant's license, was issued a "first strike." As you might imagine, three strikes may result in Kim's permanent ban from the food industry. For now, Gangnam Station has been fine $2,200 by the NSW police "for permitting intoxication."
@abcsydney Disgraceful behaviour on part of the restaurant for treating their customers this way. Issues that need… https://t.co/OhYQKWpVVB— suehenry (@suehenry) 1531128827.0
@abcsydney @abcnews The punishment doesn’t fit the crime! They should have received MUCH harsher treatment...!!!— peterjon79 (@peterjon79) 1531129617.0
@abcsydney @abcnews Is it a wild west saloon?— Matt Hamilton (@Matt Hamilton) 1531127096.0
@abcsydney human nature, they thought they could get away with it because no one was looking ...— andreas seiler (@andreas seiler) 1531139183.0
Be careful where you pass out on your night out! You never know when someone might just dump you on the sidewalk.