Call for licensing law overhaul

The widow of an Albany man who died after a tequila-skolling bet has called for an overhaul of liquor licensing laws after charges were dropped against the publican responsible for serving the tequila last week.

Former Premier Hotel licensee Wayne Leslie Stewart, 41, was charged with obtaining liquor for consumption by a drunken person after he sold a bottle of tequila to horse trainer Chris Wolfe on July 19, 2009.

Mr Wolfe, 32, died outside a friend’s house six hours after leaving the Premier Hotel, where he had consumed about a dozen drinks before he skolled the tequila bottle for a $150 bet.

But at Albany Magistrate’s Court last Thursday, police dropped the charge against Mr Stewart after Department of Public Prosecutions senior prosecutor Jan Whitbread said there was no prospect of convicting Mr Stewart of any criminal conduct, and that there would be “no public interest in proceeding with a criminal charge”.

Ms Whitbread said the decision took into account previous penalties imposed on Mr Stewart, after the WA Liquor Commission banned Mr Stewart from holding a bar licence for five years and fined his company Golfing Pub Pty Ltd $15,000 on April 14 last year.

Mr Wolfe’s widow Renee was left shattered by the decision, which she said made a mockery of the justice system.

“Our law and justice system supports the irresponsible service of alcohol. How can a publican hold a licence and serve people like that?” Ms Wolfe said.

“The publican served (Chris) all night, he knew how much Chris had consumed, then he also put on a bet like that.”

Ms Wolfe said the death of her husband had led her to call for an overhaul of liquor licensing laws, particularly involving the responsible service of alcohol.

“I work in a hospital and we need to have so many police clearances to work there, which need to be renewed every three years, yet someone can serve alcohol like that. It’s playing Russian roulette with people’s lives,” she said.

“You have a duty of care and if you can’t take that responsibility then don’t have that job.”

But Ms Wolfe said there needed to be a change in public attitudes towards drinking.

“Nothing is ever going to change unless other people in the community stand up and say this isn’t acceptable,” she said.

Mr Stewart, who now lives at Port Macquarie, did not appear in court for the hearing.

Magistrate Elizabeth Hamilton awarded Mr Stewart $2000 in legal costs.

“The people who were involved that night have no idea what I have gone through and will go through for the rest of my life,” Ms Wolfe said.

“All I want is my husband back. That is all I want. I don’t care about what happens to the others involved, all I want is my husband.”

State Coroner Alastair Hope said last October there would not be a public inquest into Mr Wolfe’s death.

Got a story? Email katherine.mountain@albanyadvertiser.com