During a private booking, the event organizer explicitly states they do not want 'rowdy' groups. Late in the evening, a group of guests from the event becomes overly boisterous, though not yet visibly intoxicated, and are disturbing other patrons in adjacent, non-private areas of the establishment. What is the server's BEST action to align with both responsible service and a duty of care to all patrons?

Question: During a private booking, the event organizer explicitly states they do not want 'rowdy' groups. Late in the evening, a group of guests from the event becomes overly boisterous, though not yet visibly intoxicated, and are disturbing other patrons in adjacent, non-private areas of the establishment. What is the server's BEST action to align with both responsible service and a duty of care to all patrons?

Answer options:

• Warn the group that they will be cut off if they continue to be loud and disruptive. ✅ Politely ask the group to lower their voices, reminding them that their behaviour is affecting other guests.
• Inform the event organizer and let them manage their guests.
• Immediately stop serving the entire group alcohol and ask them to leave for being disruptive.

Correct answer: Politely ask the group to lower their voices, reminding them that their behaviour is affecting other guests.

Explanation: Even if guests are not visibly intoxicated, disruptive behaviour impacts the safety and enjoyment of other patrons, for which the licensee has a duty of care. The most appropriate initial step is a polite intervention to ask them to modify their behaviour. This addresses the disruption directly without immediately escalating to refusal of service or requiring the event organizer to intervene, which may not be effective. Refusal of service is generally for intoxication or sustained disruptive behaviour after warnings. Issuing a warning without an initial polite request might seem aggressive.