Heritage Chalet’s management said that following the tip-off, it cancelled a suspicious booking. The party was then allegedly moved to Changi chalet.
While Heritage Chalet managed to stop this particular party, there were others that slipped through.
A few weeks later, about a hundred youths created a rowdy fracas on its grounds close to midnight.
“My staff were doing their regular night time patrol and to our shock, we found way too many people in a chalet and they were spilling out. There must have been over 100 people,” said general manager Lee Yi Christabelle.
Many who turned up apparently did not know the 19-year-old who booked the unit and gatecrashed the party.
Police were called in by the chalet after the mob refused to leave.
STEPPING UP ON SECURITY
Like CSC, the operator is also in the midst of installing more cameras to improve the coverage of its video surveillance.
“Currently (our CCTVs) cover the entrances, exits and the grounds. We will be installing more CCTVs that face the chalets. Then it will be easier for my staff to monitor, and we will have more records of who’s coming in and out,” said Ms Lee.
The operator gets occasional requests for such parties but said it rejects them.
The chalet also does its due diligence on social media in hopes of catching party organisers before they step foot on its premises.
“Sometimes we do see a massive party (that is going to happen) at our chalet. That’s when I look through future guest check-ins and identify those who are likely to have the party, and send them a reminder of the rules and consequences of having the authorities called in,” said Ms Lee.
The operator warned that those who break the rules face the risk of losing their security deposit.
The management said that before the school holidays, it received a police reminder to keep a lookout for cases of underage drinking.
Even with more video surveillance and patrols, CSC said it is hard to have eyes on 70 units spread out over a site the size about three football fields at its Changi chalet. So, the operator is finding other ways to address the problem.
It has raised the age limit for booking a unit from 18 to 21 years old. The form now also requires people to reveal their marital status.
“We realised that all these ticketing events were booked by people below 21 years old. Those who cause rowdiness and misbehave are mostly teens. Those who book for their families usually don’t give any problems,” said CSC chief executive Charlie Ng.
He added that while singles can still rent chalets, the management will keep a closer watch on those bookings.
“It is our responsibility to enhance (our guests’) experience and their safety and confidence when they stay in our chalets,” he said.
ORGANISERS HELD RESPONSIBLE
One lawyer told CNA that should a fight or other illegal activities happen at these chalet parties, the organisers will face the brunt of the law.
“If the person renting the chalet intends to host a party that involves ticketing, then technically they are using this venue for a commercial purpose and providing services that are typically provided by establishments such as registered clubs or bars. (This requires) proper licences, such as the liquor licence, from key state stakeholders,” said Mr Narendra Mudaliar, an associate at A W Law LLC.
The legal drinking age in Singapore is 18 years old.
Although there is no law penalising teens who drink while underage, licensed sellers cannot sell alcohol to them.
“By providing alcohol to underage individuals, as well as not having proper safeguards, they are at risk of breaching the Children and Young Persons Act. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse,” Mr Narendra added.