Responsible Provision of Food, Alcohol and Gambling

Safe Food Handling Practices

Under the Food Standards Code and Food Act 2003, SLSCs selling food for charity or charitable causes must follow good hygiene and food handling practices, including proper construction and maintenance of the food premises. The requirements include areas such as:

• Cleaning and sanitising
• Hand washing
• Pest control
• Protecting food from contaminants
• Temperature control.

SLSC members and staff must adhere to the Food Safety Standards applicable to the SLSC’s food business areas when selling or donating food for fundraising purposes. For example, when conducting popular volunteer fundraising activities like:

• Food stalls
• Meat tray raffles
• Sausage sizzles.
• Sunday Sips

The Food Safety Standards include a requirement for food handler training, a food safety supervisor and evidence that specific food handling activities are being adequately managed.

Your local council employs health inspectors to monitor food safety in premises. A health inspector may enter any food business areas (such as an SLSC café, bar or restaurant) or attend fundraising activities involving food to take food samples and request evidence of completed food safety training. An inspection may occur any time without permission. They may also issue infringement notices in the form of fines or close the SLSC food business area immediately if they determine it to be a serious risk to public health.

There is some food safety training available to members within part 3 of SLSA’s online Safer Surf Clubs course and the SLSA Guidelines to Safer Surf Clubs publication.

*Refer to the NSW Food Authorities website for more information and fact sheets about food safety requirements for charitable and NFPs such as SLSCs.

Responsible Service of Alcohol

Some SLSCs sell liquor as part of fundraising activities or have an SLSC bar where SLSC social activities and functions occur. The sale of alcohol is subject to responsible service of alcohol and other requirements under the Liquor Act 2007. The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) is a statutory decision-maker responsible for registered SLSC regulatory functions, including determining licensing and disciplinary matters under NSW gaming and liquor legislation.

Generally, there are two licences which apply to SLSCs based on the nature and type of operation:

1. Limited licence – multi-function

This licence allows SLSCs to sell alcohol during their approved SLSC functions, and during their social functions. For example:

• SLSCs can sell alcohol at SLSC functions that Liquor and Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) has approved
• L&GNSW may approve up to 52 SLSC functions every 12 months
• SLSCs can sell alcohol for consumption on the SLSC’s premises during a function
• L&GNSW determines trading hours for each approved function.

2. On-premises licence

Under this licence, SLSCs can hire out their premises and sell alcohol at those events. An SLSC can also use an on-premises licence to sell liquor at the SLSC’s functions and social events.

SLSCs must always comply with the conditions of their registered licence, such as those related to a licensee, secretary and managers, signage, staff training (volunteer and paid staff), trading hours, under 18 years of age restrictions and other conditions and authorisations.

*Some SLSCs may be eligible to sell liquor at up to six fundraising functions annually without a liquor licence due to a conditional liquor licence exemption for NFPs. The sale of liquor at a fundraising function is still subject to responsible service of alcohol and other requirements under the Liquor Act 2007.

!SLSCs need to be mindful that drinking alcohol at the SLSC influences younger members. SLSCs should consider where they permit drinking and aim to separate any bar area from those frequented by young SLSC members and those used for regular patrol activities. They should also give thought to members who may be struggling with alcohol dependency issues and have policies and procedures to address these circumstances.

Refer to the NSW Government The Department of Industry-Liquor And Gaming for SLSCs website and their Liquor licence exemption for not for profit organisations website the for more information about the SLSC’s obligations when serving alcohol in NSW.

Below are some valuable links for CMT members to refer to about alcohol management:

• Business signage
• Licensee (LT) and Advanced Licensee Training (ALT) NSW
• Responsible Serving of Alcohol (RSA) training providers in NSW
• Standard Drink Guide Poster – Department of Health and Ageing

Responsible Gambling

Some SLSC fundraising activities may include wagering or gambling activities as they are often entertaining and easy to conduct. Such activities often require permits. Members should follow specific procedures, including reporting requirements and adhere to NSW gambling advertising restrictions.

Activities that require a permit include but are not limited to:

• Charity housie, lucky envelopes, chocolate wheels
• SLSC bingo, promotional raffles
• Football tipping competitions, hundred SLSCs
• Raffles (including guessing competitions), no-draw lotteries (scratch, break-open lotteries), mini-numbers (lotto-style games), art unions, football doubles and variations
• Social housie
• Sweeps and calcuttas
• Trade promotion lotteries, gratuitous lotteries.

Usually, the nature of the game will impact how the SLSC manages the game concerning areas such as the limitation on revenue generated from the game and or the value of monies retained versus monies returned to players via prizes or cash. There are additional limitations on the age of members who may assist with even the simplest fundraising activities. These regulations are very specific, and the CMT must have full awareness of these requirements before proceeding with any activities.

For permit application forms and information on rules and regulations for fundraising involving gambling or wagering, visit the Liquor and Gaming NSW and NSW Fair Trading websites.

*Note: The Betting and Racing Act 1998 and the Totalizator Act 1997 regulate wagering in NSW. The NSW Lotteries and Art Unions Regulation 2014 regulates lotteries, raffles and games of chance used to raise money by non-profit organisations and drive membership to registered SLSCs. The Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 outlines how a charity can legally undertake fundraising activities.