Multiple objections were raised to a Dunedin bar's liquor licence renewal application yesterday amid scepticism over the bar operator's insistence he was ''on a learning curve'' to bring the premises up to standard.
Diogo D'Souza, who operates The Break in Great King St, appeared before the Dunedin City Council district licensing committee yesterday.
Dunedin police, medical officer of health Dr Marion Poore and licensing inspector Tony Mole objected to the renewal.
In a slight divergence from standard procedure, the committee meeting was adjourned to next Thursday, city councillor Andrew Noone said.
The adjournment was to give Mr D'Souza right of reply to concerns raised and because of ''significant challenges that need to be resolved'' before a decision can be made.
Police objections to the renewal highlighted one incident in particular, on the night of May 21.
Const Anthony Bond yesterday said police visited the bar that night, to find two highly intoxicated men ''playfighting''.
Despite attempts to remove one of the men from the bar, both ''were able to walk back into the bar unimpeded by the security guard, and this happened on approximately three occasions while police were present''.
Mr D'Souza said yesterday that when police arrived, he had been on the verge of calling them.
He said the man was ''so stubborn, like a mule'', and continued to be let in because the security guard was his uncle.
After the incident, Mr D'Souza said he asked the security company ''to never send me that doorman again''.
Alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Ian Paulin sent a one-word response to an email detailing the incident: ''BOOM!''.
The police submission said the bar ''had a reputation as one of Dunedin's highest risk premises''.
And despite the change in management, Const Bond doubted the bar could change its reputation.
''In my experience, they attract the same clientele over the years,'' he said.
''I don't believe they'll be successful in changing the demographic of people who attend there.''
In her objection, Dr Poore outlined potential problems with Mr D'Souza's capacity to appropriately staff and provide food for the cafe/tavern/nightclub proposed in the application.
Mr D'Souza said he had since realised The Break's kitchen was inadequate to provide the food necessary for a cafe.
Mr Mole's objection included concerns about Mr D'Souza's experience and compliance with liquor-licensing laws.
Mr D'Souza acknowledged yesterday he did not have experience with serving liquor before taking over operation of The Break late last year, nor did he have a duty manager's certificate - one certified duty manager must be on premises when alcohol is being served.
But Mr D'Souza said he had applied for the certificate, had many years' experience working in the hospitality industry, and was willing to admit he was ''inexperienced in running a tavern/nightclub''.
''Having run the operation for a few months, I now realise I am out of my depth,'' he said yesterday.
''Running licensed premises is more difficult than I ever anticipated.''
Mr D'Souza said he had hired two people with experience serving alcohol to manage the tavern, but Mr Mole pointed out the duty manager's certificate of one of the new employees expired in July and had yet to be renewed.
Cr Noone said the committee understood the employee had lodged an application to renew the certificate, but application fees had yet to be paid.
''They've got 48 hours to sort that out.''
At one point in the hearing, Mr Mole asked Mr D'Souza to define intoxication as detailed in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
Knowledge of the Act is required to obtain a licence controller's qualification, which Mr D'Souza had, as well as for a duty manager's certificate.
Mr D'Souza replied promptly with an acronym for the four characteristics of intoxication - ''Scab'' - but struggled to identify what the third and fourth letters stood for.
Committee chairman Colin Weatherall interrupted and asked Mr Mole to ''please, give him the answer''.
Scab stands for speech, co-ordination, appearance and behaviour.
