Operation Chale: Party boats put on notice amid increase of alcohol compliance checks in waterways

Police are cracking down on illegal behaviour on party boats, conducting random checks on licence breaches and the responsible service of alcohol. With alcohol and boating having the potential to become a “deadly mix”, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries is joining forces with officers from WA Police’s liquor enforcement unit for a summer clampdown called Operation Chale. Approved managers and other staff on charter boats could face fines or charges for breaching laws when officers board vessels at the jetty or in the State’s waterways. In a recent operation, police said 28 compliance checks were undertaken on charter vessels in the Swan River. While no significant breaches were found, a WA Police spokesman said “important intelligence was gathered regarding the conduct of some operators, which will be factored into future deployments.” Inspector Doug Stjepic said boaties should expect more checks at the jetty and in the water over coming months. “Liquor Enforcement Unit officers will be conducting both random and targeted compliance audits on charter vessels, and on the appropriate Approved Manager where a liquor licence is required,” Insp. Stjepic said. “By keeping our efforts random in nature, it means all charter vessel operators will need to ensure they are complying with their legal obligations at all times. “However, where we have intelligence that a particular operator may not be complying with the law, targeted compliance actions will occur.” Director of Liquor Licensing Lanie Chopping said that while BYO events or small functions did not need a licence, operators still had to take responsibility and ensure alcohol was safely consumed. “This is particularly important when the venue is surrounded by water and may not be easily accessed by emergency services,” she said. “Operation Chale is an important multi-agency educational initiative that recognises the dangers that exist if liquor laws are ignored, and people onboard become intoxicated. “Our aim is to make sure summer festivities on charter boats go ahead in a safe and responsible manner by engaging with operators, and educating them about the requirements is a year-round activity for us.” A police spokesman said the checks would occur anywhere, anytime. “Organisers may be exempt from obtaining a licence if the function is for a limited duration and only involves a small number of people with limited alcohol being served, or if those onboard supply their own alcohol,” he said. “However, in all circumstances, alcohol must be served responsibly and can never be served to juveniles or intoxicated people.” Authorities will check if trained staff and approved managers are onboard a given vessel, as some licences require them to do so. “The type of licence required for a function on a ‘party boat’ depends on the size of the function and whether the charter is a one-off event, or if the operator conducts regular charters.” It comes as a 22-year-old man on a jetski — who allegedly blew 0.098 on a breath test — was the first to be charged under new laws that force skippers to face the same drug and alcohol penalties as drivers.