The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal found the Australian National University Union, trading as ANU Bar, contravened the Liquor Act on October 16 and 29 by failing to ensure an emergency exit was operational.

Tribunal documents said officers from the Commission of Fair Trading warned the university watering hole about the issue on October 16. But the officers returned to find the exit still dysfunctional on October 29.

ACAT member Mary-Therese Daniel said the contraventions had been a serious breach of the ANU Bar's responsibilities as a liquor licence holder.

"The granting of a licence to sell liquor on premises is a privilege that carries with it a responsibility to ensure that premises are safe by, amongst other things, ensuring that emergency exits are functional so that patrons can be safely evacuated in the event of a fire or other emergency," Ms Daniel wrote in a judgment published on Wednesday.

"ACAT acknowledges that you immediately accepted that the contraventions occurred, that you expressed regret for the contraventions, that you took steps by making physical changes to the exit door after 29 October 2014 and that you plan to take further steps to educate and train staff in the importance of fire safety egress.

"These actions do not excuse the contraventions, however they demonstrate that you recognise the importance of the responsibilities of a licensee."

The ACAT member fined the bar $1000 for the first breach and $2000 for the second and ordered the cash be paid to the ACT Government by April 20.

The ANU Bar also gave a written undertaking it would minimise the chance of further contraventions of the Liquor Act by conducting a review of the risk-assessed management plan so staff could be trained in fire safety.