NT Government To Implement Floor Price On Alcohol
Wednesday 28 February 2018 @ 1.23 p.m. | Legal Research
The Northern Territory Government (NT Government) announced in a Media Release that in response to a wide-ranging alcohol review commissioned by former NT Supreme Court Chief Justice Trevor Riley (author of the Riley Review), the Territory would implement a minimum $1.30 floor price per standard drink for all alcoholic beverages.
This announcement means that the Territory will become the first Australian jurisdiction to put a floor price on alcohol. For more background, see our previous TimeBase article on the Riley Review and the introduction of new liquor bills to the NT Parliament.
Background
The Riley Review recommended a higher floor price of $1.50, but NT Attorney-General Natasha Fyles hopes to have the lower price in place by 1 July 2018.
Speaking to the Media, Ms Fyles said:
Proposed Changes to NT Legislation
Ms Fyles said the NT Liquor Act (the Act) was "ad hoc and not fit for purpose" and would be rewritten over the coming year, and that a blood alcohol limit of 0.05 would be introduced for people operating boats. There is currently no drinking limit for skippers, making the NT the only Australian jurisdiction without one:
The Government is also looking at expanding the Banned Drinkers Register from takeaway outlets to late-night venues.
Praise for NT Government Action
Dr John Boffa of the People's Alcohol Action Coalition (PAAC) has long campaigned for many of the changes, and praised the Government for its "world-leading" action.
Dr Boffa said:
Country Liberals Party Opposition Leader Gary Higgins also said he broadly supported the Government's move and felt an approach to alcohol policy should be de-politicised:
NT Has Highest Alcohol Consumption Rate In Australia
The Riley Review noted that the NT had the highest per-capita rate of alcohol consumption in Australia, one of the highest in the world, and the highest rate of hospitalisations due to alcohol misuse. Forty-four per cent of Territorians drink at a risky level at least once a month, compared to a quarter of people nationally.
The Review made 220 recommendations, of which the NT Government supported all but one - refusing to ban Sunday liquor trading - with 186 of the recommendations to be implemented in full, with in-principle support for a further 33 recommendations.
Making Voluntary Liquor Accords Law
There are already some alcohol restrictions in place in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, but they are voluntary liquor accords that are unenforceable, which the Government is seeking to formalise.
Tennant Creek Facing Further Restrictions
Director-General of Licensing at NT Government, Cindy Bravos has acted to further restrict the sale of takeaway alcohol in Tennant Creek, effective 28 February 2018. For the next seven days the restrictions will apply to the six venues currently licensed to sell takeaway alcohol, being:
- Tennant Creek Hotel;
- Goldfields Hotel;
- Headframe Bottle Shop;
- Sporties Club Incorporated;
- Tennant Creek Golf Club Incorporated; and
- Tennant Creek Memorial Club Incorporated.
Ms Bravos said her decision was in response to widespread concerns about the significant increase of alcohol related offences, particularly domestic violence incidents, in Tennant Creek over the past four weeks.
In a Media Release of 27 February 2018, Ms Bravos said:
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Sources:
Creating Generational Change – Roadmap To Tackle Alcohol Abuse – NT Media Release
Licensing - Further restrictions on sale of takeaway alcohol in Tennant Creek – NT Media Release
Northern Territory to be first jurisdiction in Australia with minimum floor price on alcohol – abc.net.au