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Alcohol in Alice Springs
- Alice Springs Dry Town Decision - 09 May 2007
- Alice Springs Dry Town Decision - Chairman's Speech
- An ID system for buying alcohol in Alice Springs - Discussion Paper
- Alice Springs Proposed Declaration of a Public Restricted Area - Public Notice
- Alice Springs Proposed Declaration of a Public Area - Municipality - Map
- Alcohol Management Plan
- Liquor Supply Plan
Background
A new and more comprehensive approach is being taken to address ongoing alcohol issues in Alice Springs. It includes a Liquor Supply Plan issued by the Licensing Commission and a broader Alcohol Management Plan.
These initiatives are designed to build on local activities already in place and to extend other Territory-wide strategies that are being introduced by Government. While led by Government agencies, these initiatives will involve other services and organisations in the commercial and community sectors.
A monitoring and review process has been established to ensure strategies remain focused and evolve to meet the changing needs of the community.
Alcohol Management Plan
The Plan was announced by the Chief Minister on 7 September. It was developed under the auspices of the Chief Minister’s Alcohol Taskforce. Members of the Taskforce included:
- Clare Martin - Chief Minister
- Alison Anderson - MLA
- Fran Kilgariff - Mayor, Alice Springs Town Council
- David Koch - Alderman, Alice Springs Town Council
- Pat Miller - Combined Aboriginal Organisations
- Neville Perkins - Combined Aboriginal Organisations
- Terry Lillis - Chamber of Commerce
The Plan covers a range of strategies that aim to reduce risky drinking and anti-social behaviours. Different strategies look at access to alcohol, demand for alcohol and minimising the harm that can result. Some strategies focus on individuals while others will impact on the wider community.
Liquor Supply Plan
After consultation and consideration of different needs, new conditions were brought into effect on 1 October to govern the sale of takeaways and the operation of licensed premises. These include:
- Only light beer can be sold on licensed premises before 11:30am on each trading day.
- Takeaway sales of alcohol are only permitted during the following hours:
Monday to Friday - 2pm to 9pm;
Saturday / Public Holidays - 10am to 9pm;
Sunday (only hotels and clubs) - Noon to 9pm. - There is no takeaway alcohol on Christmas Day or Good Friday.
- Takeaway container sizes are limited to no more than one litre for fortified wines, such as sherry and port, and no more than two litres for all other wine products.
- Takeaway purchases of fortified and cask wine can only be made after 6pm.
- A person can only buy one bottle of cask or fortified wine per day. This restriction does not apply to other wine products.
- Outlets are to provide liquor sales figures as directed by the Licensing Commission, including separate figures for on premises liquor and off premises liquor.
- All staff serving alcohol must hold a Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate within one month of commencing employment.
- All stores and venues with drive-through bottle shops must have camera surveillance in operation.
Monitoring And Evaluation
The impact of the Supply Plan will be monitored by the Licensing Commission over 12 months. The Licensing Commission has expressed a readiness to alter conditions if evidence indicates the emergence of significant unintended and harmful effects. To inform its decisions, the Licensing Commission will initially obtain reports on a monthly basis and then quarterly.
The Alcohol Management Plan will be reviewed after 12 months.
An Alcohol Reference Panel (ARP) has been set up, with membership that includes:
| Chris McIntyre (Chair) | Racing, Gaming and Licensing |
| Donna Ah Chee | Congress |
| John Baskerville | Department of the Chief Minister |
| Kath Broadbent | DASA |
| Richard Bryson | NT Police |
| Gail Connor | Community Harmony |
| Penny Fielding | Department of Health and Community Services |
| Russell Goldflam | People’s Alcohol Action Coalition |
| Peter Hahn | Licensee |
| Abdul Khan | CAAAPU |
| Fran Kilgarif | Alice Springs Town Council |
| David Koch | Alice Springs Town Council |
| Patricia Miller | Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service |
| Anthony Phillips | Licensee |
| Peter Thornton | Town Camp Implementation Steering Committee |
| Paul Venturin | Licensee |
| Rosemary Wiese | Chamber of Commerce |
The ARP is governed by Terms of Reference. The primary function of the group is to enable information to be exchanged about the effectiveness and development of the Alcohol Management Plan.
The first meeting of the ARP was held on 2 November 2006 and minutes are available. The most recent meeting of the ARP was on 14 December and the minutes are available.
Have Your Say
People can register any comments or information they have about the initiatives by contacting Racing, Gaming and Licensing on 8951 8452 or by email to oapc.doj@nt.gov.au.
