Has Australia reached peak nanny state? Country pub is forced to BAN children from ordering lemon, lime and bitters drink – over fears it could be fined thousands
- Panton Hill Hotel has banned serving lemon lime and bitters to under-18s
- Policy was introduced after tough new liquor licensing laws enforced last year
- Staff feared the alcoholic bitters component of the beverage was too risky
Lemon, lime and bitters is off the menu for children at a popular country hotel, amid fears it could be fined for serving the popular beverage to minors.
Panton Hill Hotel in Victoria's Yarra Valley north-east of Melbourne introduced the ban after tough new licensing laws came into effect statewide last September.
Previously, under-18s were allowed to have alcohol with a meal if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Licensed premises are no longer allowed to supply liquor to minors for consumption 'under any circumstances'.
Panton Hill Hotel (pictured) stopped serving lemon, lime and bitters to minors after tough new licensing laws were enforced last September
The hotel now regards the drink's bitters component as 'too risky'.
'It is to safeguard ourselves from a penalty,' duty manager, Lynda Hunter told the Herald Sun.
'The way we make it, it is no longer just a couple of drops of bitters.'
The Yarra Valley-based hotel regarded the drink's bitters component as too risky
She admitted some customers weren't happy with the new policy.
'But once I explain to them that bitters has an alcohol content of 44.7 per cent, most people understand,' she said.
Pub staff are also banned from drinking the beverage at the venue if they're P-plate drivers, the publication reported.
Commonly served in Australia and New Zealand, lemon, lime and bitters is a mixed drink made consisting of lemonade, lime cordial and Angostura bitters.
The pub prides itself on being family friendly with many pets, including chickens
A Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation spokeswoman said the minor addition of bitters to a soft drink usually doesn't constitute as liquor but depended on the amount added.
The hotel describes itself as one of the oldest pubs in the state with a history of fantastic food and a friendly atmosphere.
'Melbourne's favourite local country pub,' its Instagram page states.
The hotel prides itself on being a family friendly venue with a large children's playground, pony rides and has chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs as pets.
More liquor licensing laws are expected to into effect in Victoria on March 1.
Under-18s in Victoria were previously allowed to have alcohol with a meal at a licensed venue if accompanied by a parent/guardian
