Council acts on alcohol delivery

Campaign posters advertising the new alcohol delivery service ‘Jimmy Brings’ have drawn the scrutiny of Waverley Council.

Black and white posters proclaiming, “Vote 1: Jimmy Brings”, appeared around the eastern suburbs during the federal election campaign. After initially accusing the company of causing “pollution” due to the amount of posters involved, Council has now made moves to shut the business down.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said the establishment of an alcohol delivery service is a backward step at a time when Council are working together with police and the community to manage anti-social behaviour.

“In conjunction with the police, Council works hard to minimise anti-social behaviour in Waverley and to make sure it’s an enjoyable and safe place for everyone,” she said. “It is therefore disappointing that anyone has been granted a licence to run an alcohol delivery service.”

Council has concerns about the threat to community amenity, the health and safety of citizens, and the potential for minors to access alcohol.

“There is a real risk that people who shouldn’t drink or aren’t legally able to drink could get alcohol through such a service,” Ms Betts said.

Members of the community are able to purchase alcohol from bottle shops to drink at home and have the opportunity to drink at licensed venues. Ms Betts is adamant there is no need for increased opportunities to access alcohol.

Unlike the ‘Beer Baron’, who caused controversy in 2011 by delivering alcohol after hours using a legal loophole that allowed him to treat the sales as “gifts”, Jimmy Brings is a fully licensed business that does not operate after midnight.

“We worked in consultation with local licensing officials and the police before we acquired our licence,” said Nathan Besser, who runs Jimmy Brings along with business partner David Berger.

“There’s nothing illegal about what we do and we conform to all relevant legislation and take responsible service of alcohol very seriously,” he said.

Mr Besser said when larger alcohol companies deliver goods they do so under much less scrutiny.

“The drivers for these companies simply leave the alcohol on the front doorstep if no one is at home,” he said. “Jimmy Brings needs a person to be present who is of age and not in an intoxicated state.”

Although not a legal obligation, the business has a policy that all delivery drivers must have a responsible service of alcohol certificate.

When making a delivery, the drivers check ID to make sure people are of legal age and they do not serve people who are intoxicated.

“Our business actually keeps people off the street,” Mr Besser said.