FIVE Warrnambool licensed venues are being investigated in relation to liquor licensing breaches during the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival.
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Warrnambool police Senior Sergeant Shane Keogh said Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) officers had reason to speak to five licence holders last week.
"We have been working with licensees, including the Warrnambool Racing Club, during the last few years," he said.
"Some issues will be addressed through our own Warrnambool Liquor Licensing Accord."
Senior Sergeant Keogh said VCGLR officers had collected information, that would be assessed and licensees may be talked to, issued with written warnings or infringement notices.
"In the last couple of years police have been working hard with licensees in Warrnambool," he said.
"Police can't be everywhere during race week and the majority of our members are on the street and conducting walk-throughs at licensed venues.
"Commission inspectors target licensed premises and identify those offending."
The senior police officer said that anecdotally Warrnambool May Race week this year attracted a larger number of patrons to licensed premises.
"It was a bit busier this year, people stayed out a bit later and licensed premises were open longer," Senior Sergeant Keogh said.
"The success of the races, attracting record crowds, means that people are experiencing different social interaction and that has spin-offs for police and licensed venues," he said.
A VCGLR representative confirmed that as part of a joint operation with Victoria Police they visited several venues in Warrnambool with a focus on ensuring the venues were compliant and practising responsible service of alcohol.
The body confirmed they were following up with a number of the venues that were visited, however, they said it was still too early to provide further information on which venues were being looked at and the nature of any breaches.
The VCGLR said it was unable to provide further comment due to ongoing enquiries.
According to Racing Victoria, more than 30,000 attended the carnival this year, representing a 20 per cent increase on last year’s event.
