Alcohol regulation key to addressing crime
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (Congress) today acknowledged the new Northern Territory Government’s commitment to addressing the high crime rate in Alice Springs.
But the health organisation warned that winding back alcohol supply regulation will have the opposite effect, leading to a wave of alcohol related domestic violence, assaults, and social disorder.
Congress CEO, Donna Ah Chee, said: “Our Aboriginal Board of Directors is also concerned about the levels of crime in Central Australia.”
“However, there is overwhelming evidence that regulating the supply of alcohol – including through a ‘floor price’, reduced takeaway trading hours, and the Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors (PALIs) – is a highly effective way to reduce crime.”
Ms Ah Chee pointed to official government figures which show that the regulations introduced in Alice Springs in early 2023, including the two takeaway free days, was associated with[1]:
- a considerable reduction in alcohol consumption in the town, down 26% in the months after the regulations were introduced, and now the lowest ever recorded for the second quarter of any year (April – June);
- a major fall in domestic and family violence (alcohol-related Domestic Violence Assaults fell by 41% in the period to November 2023, and a further 5% since then); and
- a 13% fall in property crime.
Ms Ah Chee continued: “The Government’s alcohol regulations were never expected to solve all the town’s social issues. We are still concerned about the poverty, family dysfunction, intergenerational trauma and a failing education system which continue to drive crime rates.”
“These issues will not be fixed in the short term. But in the meantime, we need effective alcohol regulation that keeps Alice Springs residents, families, visitors and businesses safe, and provide the best possible future for the town.”
Ms Ah Chee said: “Congress urges the Northern Territory Government to keep the current regulations in place and to ensure that the system of PALIs is implemented sustainably.”
“We also need to ensure that these regulations are implemented fairly and consistently, and that some alcohol outlets are not given special treatment such as by allowing them to sell alcohol on takeaway free days or without the supervision of a PALI.”
“In addition, we ask the Government not to remove the Minimum Unit Price of $1.30 per standard drink for alcohol. This ‘floor price’ does not affect moderate drinkers, but removing it would increase the availability of cheap and dangerous alcohol, and thus lead to higher rates of public disorder and alcohol-related crime. Unfortunately, our experience and the evidence tells us that for the heaviest, addicted drinkers making alcohol cheaper will not lead to increased spending on food and other goods, but simply to increased alcohol consumption.”
“We note that numerous reviews of the MUP have all recommended that it is kept in place.”
Ms Ah Chee ended by saying: “Any move to wind back the highly successful alcohol regulations in Alice Springs will inevitably lead to higher crime rates in the town, much of which will be felt by Aboriginal women and families.”
[1] See our accompanying analysis for details on these figures.
