An RSA Marshal is a person working within a Queensland licensed venue whose role is intended to support the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA). This can include observing alcohol consumption, identifying early signs of intoxication, encouraging patrons to consume water, food or non-alcoholic drinks, communicating concerns to bar staff, management or licensed security personnel, and supporting decisions to refuse further service of alcohol. An RSA Marshal is not the same as a licensed crowd controller.

This distinction is particularly important because Queensland's Security Providers Act defines crowd control by the work actually performed, including screening entry, monitoring or controlling people's behaviour and removing people from a public place. Simply calling someone an “RSA Marshal” does not remove security licensing requirements if their actual duties amount to crowd control.

The Security Providers Association of Australia (SPAAL) has recently made a formal submission to the Queensland Attorney-General raising concerns about the increasingly blurred line between RSA Marshal duties and licensed crowd-control functions. SPAAL supports legitimate RSA activities but argues that RSA Marshals should not be used as substitutes for appropriately trained and licensed crowd controllers.

In particular, SPAAL considers duties such as controlling aggressive or disorderly behaviour, directing patrons to leave, participating in evictions or physically removing patrons to be security functions requiring the appropriate security licence and training. For students considering work in licensed venues, the important point is simple: RSA Marshals support responsible alcohol service; licensed crowd controllers are trained, licensed and regulated to perform crowd-control functions.