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Liquor forums

A forum is a meeting of liquor industry representatives and interested community members who meet regularly.

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A liquor forum is a meeting of licensees, police, local council and liquor industry representatives who meet regularly.

Benefits of attending liquor forums:

  • Improve the operation of your business, making it safer for your community.
  • Keep up to date with your responsibilities.
  • Network and build relationships with other local businesses and police.
  • Develop local harm prevention actions.
  • Share knowledge and experience.

Joining a liquor forum

If you are a licensee or manager and want to join a liquor forum, contact your forum from the list below.

If you can’t find one in your area, contact your local police to see if there is an active forum or plans to establish one.

List of forums in Victoria

Setting up a liquor forum

Forums are a local initiative and are usually set up by police, who then work together with council representatives and licensees.

Forums may be formalised with the establishment of a liquor accord; a written document that sets out specific aims, actions, objectives and strategies addressing local alcohol-related problems.

Participation in forums

Forum attendees may include:

  • licensees from various venue types including sporting clubs, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and packaged liquor outlets
  • Victoria Police members
  • council representatives (planning departments play a role in liquor licensing and council representatives often act as chairpersons too).
  • community, industry groups and organisations with an interest in alcohol issues.

The more venues represented at forums the better. It can be helpful to visit licensed venues to promote the benefits of attending forums.

Frequency of meetings

Most liquor forums meet 3 to 4 times a year for an hour. Setting meeting dates in advance can help licensees plan and can increase meeting attendance.

Location of meetings

Some liquor forums rotate the location so each forum member can chair the meeting.

Other forums hold their meetings at the police station or local council. The most common meeting times are 10am, 2pm or 3pm. Meetings held during busy meal service times don’t usually suit.

Some forums include local sporting clubs and opt to have an occasional meeting in the evening to allow for volunteers to attend. Ultimately, the timing is up to members.

Dedicated email address for the liquor forum

Email is a quick and easy way to communicate with members.

Having a generic forum email address for communication with members, allows the administration of the forum to continue if the usual contact person is on leave or away, e.g. blackhill_liquor_forum@police.vic.gov.au

Running a liquor forum

Make meetings interesting

There are several ways to make the meeting interesting for the members such as:

  • guest speakers – presenting on a topic suggested by the members. Speakers may not be required at every meeting but they help keep interest at meetings. A list of suggested guest speakers for liquor forums is below.
  • case studies – a discussion of a recent incident and how it was managed encourages sharing of successful strategies and improvements. This can assist other licensees in the future.
  • training opportunities – such as first aid, Responsible Service of Alcohol or handling difficult customers.

Agendas and minutes

Agendas prepare members for the meetings and promote guest speakers. It also helps the meeting stay on schedule.

Minutes are useful to record actions and to give an overview of what was discussed for members unable to attend. Minutes don’t have to be extensive; they just need to capture the main points of discussion and any action items.

Forum resources and materials

Business & the workplace

Updated

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