The former licensee of a hotel in NSW's north-east has been banned from holding a liquor license for one year after a heavily intoxicated patron was placed into an induced coma after suffering a head injury.
The man was served 16 alcoholic beverages in five hours at the Southgate Inn Hotel in Tamworth before being allowed to buy a bottle of rum from the hotel's bottle shop.
Emergency services were called after the man fell outside the premises.
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He was taken to Tamworth Base Hospital after suffering multiple injuries, including a head laceration.
The man has a blood alcohol level of 0.33, nearly seven times the legal driving limit.
He was later released from hospital.
Liquor and Gaming NSW investigated a complaint shortly after that, which alleged that hotel employees supplied the liquor that led to the man's intoxication, continuing to serve him despite obvious signs of inebriation.
Liquor and Gaming NSW Director Regulatory Operations, Dimitri Argeres, said the actions of the staff posed a serious safety risk to the patron and is the responsibility of the licensee.
"It is important that licensees and venue managers train their staff and have procedures in place to ensure the responsible service of alcohol," Argeres said.
"Licensees must ensure their venue operates safely, even when they are not present.
"Apart from breaking the law, the actions of hotel staff in this instance put the patron at risk of significant harm, which led to serious injury.
"As this case shows, venues that fail to abide by RSA requirements can expect to be caught and face significant consequences."
The licensee has had their license revoked for one year.
The hotel's liquor license has been transferred to a new licensee since the incident.
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