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Sydney Nightclub Under Fire For Using Porn And Drugs To Promote Event

Sydney’s Home Nightclub has been put in the naughty corner after using images of people snorting drugs and having sex to promote one of its events.

The Cockle Bay venue has been issued an ultimatum by the ­Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing to take down the explicit promo, or else face a $5500 fine and a strike under the Three Strikes disciplinary scheme.

The offending promo in question was a Facebook video advertising an event called Blow, which is scheduled to take place this Saturday night.

As News Corp reports, the 15-second clip featured a montage of scenes, including a man snorting ­cocaine off a spoon and “sexual activities”, including a scene from an animated Japanese porno (Hentai for those of you who speak the language of “sexual activities”).

Screenshot of the video, via The Daily Telegraph

OLGR Director of Compliance & Enforcement Anthony Keon said (likely in a very stern voice): “This type of promotion is not only offensive but clearly encourages irresponsible and illegal behaviour and is not in the public interest.

“It is extremely inappropriate and irresponsible for any licensee to rely upon the promotion of illicit drug use and explicit sexual imagery to promote its business. Licensees are required by law to adopt responsible attitudes and practices.

“The indifference displayed by this venue’s management about this promotion suggests they are completely out of touch with community expectations which is of extreme concern given the nightclub is on the violent venues list and is a late trading high risk premises located in the Sydney CBD precinct.”

The nightclub seems to have complied and deleted the racy vid, and a good thing too, because the OLGR seems to be out to prove a point recently.

They’re currently attempting to put the permanent kibosh on The Imperial Hotel in Erskineville, slapping it with a long-term closure order following multiple infringements relating to drug use and intoxication. The venue now has less than a week to try to save itself.

A press release from the OLGR also reminded us that they shut down Darlinghurst’s Exchange hotel back in January on drug-related matters.

Meanwhile, many other Sydney venues that are toeing the line when it comes to the state’s standards of responsible alcohol promotion are being wiped out by another foe: the lockout laws. You can find some examples here, here, here, oh and here.

And then there are those which are closing down just because. Like the iconic Lansdowne hotel, which we found out yesterday will close its doors for good by the end of the month.

The whole thing is very depressing. I need a drink.

Served responsibly of course.

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