Melbourne bar China Bar has copped a $9913 fine after police found six staff serving two customers drinks on Saturday night.
Under strict new COVID-19 shutdown rules, restaurants and bars are not permitted to serve or seat patrons in store, and may only offer takeaway and delivery services.
Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Patton told 3AW: “They chose to make no comment and weren’t cooperative at all. They wouldn’t say how long they had been open or why they were open.
“It’s so selfish really, when everyone else is taking the economic hit and doing the right thing, and yet someone think they’re above everyone else.
"Unless you're living under a rock, or unless you're an idiot, it's quite clear the restrictions are there, the restrictions are to be abided by," he said.
The bar, located in the suburb of Fitzroy, was fined $9913 for the breach, and police will continue to monitor the venue to ensure it doesn’t breach the rules again.
However, a staff member told the Herald Sun it was bad luck and “coincidence” that two men were drinking there when police visited.
“It was a friend of the owner and his friend … I have only seen one of them before a couple of times.”
She claimed staff were unaware the pair were drinking at the bar, which was open to takeaway only, and they were “already drunk when they got there”.
“We were quite unlucky with that situation, like really unlucky. We didn’t see them sitting down.”
She also said she felt the fine was unfair because the men "were only there to find the boss”.
More than 500 Victoria Police are conducting random checks across the state to ensure compliance.
Victorians may only go out of their homes to buy essentials, exercise, or go to work or study if they can't do it from home. Gatherings of more than two people who are not part of a household is an offence.
Premier Daniel Andrews police will not hesitate to take action against anyone who doesn't obey the rules. There are on-the-spot fines of $1652 for individuals and $9913 for businesses.
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