Jetstar and Responsible Service of Alcohol

[AlphaVictor]

Hi,
This small post in the smh.com.au actually has some merit to it. Do the RSA laws apply to airlines? And if they do, is Jetstar breaking the law by refusing to offer free water to its passengers?


High and dry
I flew to Queensland with Jetstar for schoolies recently.
On the plane, one of our group requested a glass of water from attendants selling alcohol and was told he would have to purchase a bottle.
Having recently completed a "responsible service of alcohol" course, I thought suppliers of alcohol were required by law to supply free water. And we are labelled the irresponsible ones!
- James Papandrea


The actual letter is at the base of this link
Letters: Hotel credit card shocks

 

[Dave Noble]

Do the jetstar flights have water fountains? If so , then all would seem ok

Dave

 

[milehighclub]

From the sounds of it I don't think the person in the group was buying alcohol, however Jetstar is bound by RSA laws as are all Australian registered aircraft.

 

[oz_mark]

From what I remember there was some variation across states as to whether water had to be simply 'available', or 'freely available'.

 

[Saab34]

Jetstar have free water fountains on their A330s, and if you ask for a cup they usually have no problem. I know Tiger give out cups of iced water for free if you ask, no idea about DJ.

 

[ksthommo]

Flew CNS/BNE on Jetstar last Sunday. Entered via the rear stairs, before I got to my seat, one passenger asked the attendant at the rear for water and was given a paper cup of water no problems.

Must have been a big effort getting up the stairs.

 

[cosi]

One of the flight attendants employment conditions in the Qantas group is you must have a RSA certificate.

Very strange that water was refused.

 

[gilby08]

One of the flight attendants employment conditions in the Qantas group is you must have a RSA certificate.

Very strange that water was refused.

That's because it does not have to be supplied for free, especially in VIC..
In VIC all that has to be done is that there is a running sorce of water for patrons to get for free. But as in alot of clubs in Victoria, the water is in the basins of the toilets and they generally increase the temp of the water so they pay for the over priced bar bottled water.. (AFAIK)

Different states have different requirements, but it's not a requirement to provide free bottled water in VIC. There are other methods on a plane to drink water.

 

[samh004]

Flying from MEL with a hangover I was given a free glass of water and an aspirin, though the water was warm.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[mfbpc68]

All people serving alcohol in Australia must follow RSA guidelines and in fact must have a valid RSA certificate. This includes people serving alcohol on airlines. I run an so I'm sure of my information.

 

[markis10]

All people serving alcohol in Australia must follow RSA guidelines and in fact must have a valid RSA certificate. This includes people serving alcohol on airlines. I run an so I'm sure of my information.

Welcome to AFF, as pointed out earlier in the thread RSA requirements with water vary from state to state so the supply of water is not mandatory in that sense. If the statement that all people serving alcohol in Australia must have a RSA certificate is true then one wonders how international airlines and cruise ships meet the requirements, perhaps its a case of all permanently Australian employed staff needing to meet that requirement?

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Flying from MEL with a hangover I was given a free glass of water and an aspirin, though the water was warm.

They gave you an aspirin too? I have been told at numerous workplaces that no pills are to be handed out to staff, full stop. If you want a pill (ie, Panadol/Nurofen) get it yourself. Legal issues l've been told.
The First Aid boxes l have checked recently don't contain pills now days.

 

[mannej]

They gave you an aspirin too? I have been told at numerous workplaces that no pills are to be handed out to staff, full stop. If you want a pill (ie, Panadol/Nurofen) get it yourself. Legal issues l've been told.
The First Aid boxes l have checked recently don't contain pills now days.

That depends on company policies. Certain workplaces may need certain type of medications but they must be locked away securely. Paracetamol (IIRC) may be in a first aid box provided that there is a use before date. That is info I can find from Worksafe WA, so this may vary from state to state.

 

[oz_mark]

That depends on company policies. Certain workplaces may need certain type of medications but they must be locked away securely. Paracetamol (IIRC) may be in a first aid box provided that there is a use before date. That is info I can find from Worksafe WA, so this may vary from state to state.

From where I have worked in WA, painkillers were allowed in first aid kits, although you did need to have a management plan for them.(They needed to be requested, and we had to keep records of who had taken them) Pilfering of Panadol was a big problem at one minesite I was at.

 

[mfbpc68]

Welcome to AFF, as pointed out earlier in the thread RSA requirements with water vary from state to state so the supply of water is not mandatory in that sense. If the statement that all people serving alcohol in Australia must have a RSA certificate is true then one wonders how international airlines and cruise ships meet the requirements, perhaps its a case of all permanently Australian employed staff needing to meet that requirement?

Great question, did a bit of research but couldn't turn anything useful up. I suspect u are right, permanently employed Australian staff and probably within the national boundaries of Australia, thus cruise ships in international waters might not be subject to liquor laws. Its a gray area, if you search on "cruise ships international waters liquor laws" you will get some info, I'm not allowed to post links yet

 

[mfbpc68]

Welcome to AFF, as pointed out earlier in the thread RSA requirements with water vary from state to state so the supply of water is not mandatory in that sense. If the statement that all people serving alcohol in Australia must have a RSA certificate is true then one wonders how international airlines and cruise ships meet the requirements, perhaps its a case of all permanently Australian employed staff needing to meet that requirement?

Great question, did a bit of research but couldn't turn anything useful up. I suspect u are right, permanently employed Australian staff and probably within the national boundaries of Australia, thus cruise ships in international waters might not be subject to liquor laws. Its a gray area, if you search on "cruise ships international waters liquor laws" you will get some info, I'm not allowed to post links yet.

 

[Sprucegoose]

From what I remember there was some variation across states as to whether water had to be simply 'available', or 'freely available'.

Correct and if it is cooled, it can be sold.

Weak argument, you buy alcohol and then you are entitled to free water?

We are living in a nanny state as mark weber says.

 

[samh004]

They gave you an aspirin too? I have been told at numerous workplaces that no pills are to be handed out to staff, full stop. If you want a pill (ie, Panadol/Nurofen) get it yourself. Legal issues l've been told.
The First Aid boxes l have checked recently don't contain pills now days.

When I flew, which was I think 2009/2010, I got on board, looked ill, FA asked, I said drinking, she gave me a tablet and some water.

Good customer service.

Not tried it again recently

 

[BVT]

When I flew, which was I think 2009/2010, I got on board, looked ill, FA asked, I said drinking, she gave me a tablet and some water.

Good customer service.

Not tried it again recently

I have never had a problem getting unchilled tap water on JQ, although some FA's do the hard sell for the bottled stuff.

Once in a similar condition to samh004, I asked for, and received asprin from a FA who went to great lengths to tell me it was from her personal supply and not from QF.

 

[samh004]

Once in a similar condition to samh004, I asked for, and received asprin from a FA who went to great lengths to tell me it was from her personal supply and not from QF.

It’s possible it was in my case too, but I didn’t bother to ask, and can’t remember if it was mentioned