Discriminated by disability; refused service; no justification provided.
I was refused service tonight. I was not intoxicated.
I admitted to a standard drink earlier that evening.
My wife and I don't get out much since I suffered a spinal infection that led to permanent disability. I get embarrassed because sometimes I move a little bit strangely from neurlogical complications and suffer from incontinance, sexual disfunction, and on-going pain.
So, tonight we chose a late hour (when less people are around) to go out and get a single drink whilst it was quiet. This was the first time I had been out since before Christmas. I had been looking forward to this all day. _It was also our wedding anniversary._
Now instead of celebrating with my wife I can't stop crying because I was reminded yet again I will neer have the life I once did.
I was refused service by David, who I assume was the manager, however I (nor my wife) were not given a clear reason as to why he was refusing me. I was told that under RSA guidelines that he didn't need to provide a reason why I was not allowed to be served. My wife who does have RSA training told me this is definitely not the case - I need to be told why I'm being refused service. I wasn't slurring my words, I was articulate, and polite.
I didn't get aggressive in response- in fact I started tearing up, because I have suffered so much discrimation due to my disability in my profressional and social life, so this hurts me to my core. If I was intoxicated I would have accepted the judgement no questions asked.
As a local to Dulwich Hill, I am a semi frequent visitor to the establishment, and a regular customer to their bottle shops because Gladstone own all 3 of them so there is no choice.
David could not or would not clearly tell me why he believed I was intoxicated. He viewed me for less than 30 seconds and spoke no words to me at all except, that he was refusing my purchase as I was initially served by another bar staff member that needed sign off.
My wife was in the bathroom during this exchange, and poltely asked David to explain, why, I was not being served. David chose not to answer her either, simply repeating "He's had enough" or "I don't have to serve him" when she said "With all due respect, he has a neurological complications, which affect his well being in many ways, one of which impacts hs gait. He has had one standard drink at home. I am gently reminding you that not eveyone who appears impaired or intoxicated, is that way. It is unfair to make blanket assumptions" his response was a vague "I know".
Once we left, I made a call to The Gladstone, to obtain the manager's name in order to make a formal complaint as well as this Google review.
During the phone call, David emphasised to me thatcurrent RSA laws means he doesn't need to provide a reason to refuse service.
That is definitely not true.
PER The RSA, module 2 and module 4 both heavily cover the imporatance of recognising that there could be physical disabilities causing signs that could mimic intoxication, and that must be delicately approached.
Personally I am prone to myclonic jerks where sometimes my muscles twich strangely. I also have a limp.
He told me 'you're not the first person to have been cut off', but that would imply that I served earlier. I was not. Here or anywhere.
It sucks, because The Gladstone own a monolpoly on alcohol in Dulwich Hill, which means I have to now leave the suburb to purchase alcohol as I don't want to continue providing my business to this venue and the others.
And on a final note - why is it okay to serve a regular patron 8 beers in 2-3 hours(11.2 standard drinks), multiple days a week, but it's not okay to serve me a single standard drink in a tall glass with nothing to indicate intoxication?An arvo in the pokies room will prove my point.
If offered I would have have taken a breathalizer. I don't want to post medical records too personal for this medium. The owner of the establishment is welcome to contact me directly if he would like more information. read more