An alleged incident at Brisbane live music venue Ric's Bar last weekend has generated heated backlash online.
A now deleted Facebook post details the event (on 15 January) that saw an Aboriginal woman removed from the venue by Queensland Police Service (QPS) after being refused service.'Girl X ordered a drink (she was intoxicated but not white girl wasted and she was no drunker than some of the other non-Indigenous girls she was with – still could walk, talk and comprehend),' the post alleges.
'Girl X pays for her drink and the barman gives her water, girl X accepted her water but asked to be reimbursed for the drink she has paid for and not received.
'She was not argumentative just firmly asking for a refund, next minute the barman calls security and five security guards and two police officers came over they put their knee in her back, kicked her in the back, choked her out then grabbed her arms chicken winged them behind her back and the cops came and handcuffed her and took her to the watch house.'
An abrasive response if those actions occurred. The now deleted post spread across social media like wildfire with Ric's and their staff subjected to abuse and vilification online with many calling for the boycott of the iconic venue that was founded in 1993.
A screenshot of the now deleted Facebook post
Ric's responded to the allegations on Tuesday with their own Facebook post (you can read the complete statement below). In it, they state 'there is CCTV footage of the entire event' which has been handed over to QPS as evidence.
'After approaching the bar and requesting a drink, an individual was refused service according to our legal RSA requirements,' the statement reads.
'The bartender gave them a glass of water and crucially, did not serve them an alcoholic drink or make a sale.'
This contradicts the original post that detailed that girl x 'asked to be reimbursed for the drink she has paid for and not received'.
After security and management were called to the situation Ric's social media post contests 'assistance from the Queensland Police Service was then requested. . . The individual continued to refuse QPS instruction to leave.
'The police followed their protocols and tried to lead the patron out of the venue. The individual continued to resist and was consequently arrested. . . This is simply a case of an individual refusing to leave the venue when requested, resulting in the removal being handled by the police.
'The vilification of our staff and security is completely unjust and unwarranted.'
The matter is being handled by QPS.
Ric's Bar statement:
There is CCTV footage of the entire event. After approaching the bar and requesting a drink, an individual was refused service according to our legal RSA requirements.
This is not an unusual thing to happen in a nightlife bar, we often need to ask people to have a glass of water and a break from drinking.
The bartender gave them a glass of water and crucially, did not serve them an alcoholic drink or make a sale.
The patron became agitated after being refused service and as such, a security guard asked the individual to leave. The patron did not adhere, and so a manager was called.
Managers spoke with the individual for over four minutes, in a completely contactless manner, calmly requesting that the individual leave the venue. Again, this is not unusual.
As the individual refused to leave the venue, breaching Section 165 of the Liquor Act 1992, assistance from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) was then requested.
Please note that no Ric's Bar managers or security have touched the patron. The individual continued to refuse QPS instruction to leave.
The police followed their protocols and tried to lead the patron out of the venue. The individual continued to resist and was consequently arrested. The patron was led out of the venue by the police.
Throughout this entire event, no Ric's Bar staff or security ever touched the individual. This is clearly seen in the footage, which has been handed over as evidence for the charges being made against the individual by the police.
This is simply a case of an individual refusing to leave the venue when requested, resulting in the removal being handled by the police.
The vilification of our staff and security is completely unjust and unwarranted. For any further comments please contact the Queensland Police Service.
There is CCTV footage of the entire event. After approaching the bar and requesting a drink, an individual was refused service according to our legal RSA requirements.
This is not an unusual thing to happen in a nightlife bar, we often need to ask people to have a glass of water and a break from drinking.
The bartender gave them a glass of water and crucially, did not serve them an alcoholic drink or make a sale.
The patron became agitated after being refused service and as such, a security guard asked the individual to leave. The patron did not adhere, and so a manager was called.
Managers spoke with the individual for over four minutes, in a completely contactless manner, calmly requesting that the individual leave the venue. Again, this is not unusual.
As the individual refused to leave the venue, breaching Section 165 of the Liquor Act 1992, assistance from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) was then requested.
Please note that no Ric's Bar managers or security have touched the patron. The individual continued to refuse QPS instruction to leave.
The police followed their protocols and tried to lead the patron out of the venue. The individual continued to resist and was consequently arrested. The patron was led out of the venue by the police.
Throughout this entire event, no Ric's Bar staff or security ever touched the individual. This is clearly seen in the footage, which has been handed over as evidence for the charges being made against the individual by the police.
This is simply a case of an individual refusing to leave the venue when requested, resulting in the removal being handled by the police.
The vilification of our staff and security is completely unjust and unwarranted. For any further comments please contact the Queensland Police Service.
