New packaged liquor bottle shops in Victoria are now required to apply for planning approval after a change to planning permit requirements approved last week by the Coalition Government. This means community members, police and local governments will have an opportunity to raise objections to new plans for new packaged liquor outlets in their area.

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It was good to read that communities will now be able to voice objections about any new liquor barns in their local area.

The fact that we had no say before now has always seemed wrong to me. The need for profit and unlimited access to booze at all hours seemed to take priority, no matter how the people living in an area felt about it.

In 2006, Darebin City Council couldn’t stop a Dan Murphy’s application for a licence despite the region already having two hundred liquor outlets and recording the second highest number of alcohol-related deaths in Melbourne.

How much alcohol is too much? Already, more than 24,000 Victorians end up in hospital from alcohol harm every year. As taxpayers, we fork out more than $15billion dollars to clean up the mess that alcohol leaves in its wake. So this preventable problem is taking up valuable health resources (paramedics, hospitals, emergency units). And it’s also hurting us in the hip pocket.

I’m pleased that this will soon change – communities, police and local councils will be able to oppose liquor barn applications on the grounds of risks to health and safety.

In last two decades, there’s been an explosion of liquor shops across Victoria. And a day doesn’t go past without a devastating news story relating to alcohol. I’m all for the growth and fair competition of good business - especially if it’s making a positive contribution to our community - but I don’t think big liquor barns fall into this category.

Ingrid Wilson, Policy Advisor
Australian Drug Foundation

The ADF held its third regional community forum in sunny Shepparton on Wednesday 30 March 2011.

Session 1 – Reducing alcohol harm in the community - was attended by around 10 people including representatives from the Department of Health, Salvation Army and the wider community. Kelly Wells from Primary Care Connect (formerly Goulburn Valley Community Health Service) gave a great presentation on local alcohol related issues, Sarah Jaggard from the ADF talked about the new legislation around secondary supply, and there was also a preview of Your Shout, the ADF’s new educational DVD about alcohol and young people.

Session 2 – Alcohol management & Policies in Sports Clubs – was attended by 25 club delegates. Chaired by Rod Glenn-Smith, ADF’s State Manager Good Sports (Victoria), attendees received presentations from Grant Saunders – Responsible Alcohol Victoria Compliance Officer for the North East region and Bob Barby, ADF’s Community Safety Consultant who delivered a Club Liquor License Seminar. Additional support was provided on the night by Senior Sergeant Ross Brittan and Karen McCluskey from Responsible Alcohol Victoria who assisted Grant and Bob answer numerous questions.

The next ADF Community Forum is set for Traralgon, 27 April 2011. Please call (03) 9278 8100 or email adf@adf.org.au

Early Bird Registration for the 6th International Conference on Drugs and Young People: Making the Connections (May 2-4, 2011) has been extended until c.o.b. Friday 8th , April, 2011.

Full registration details are available at the 6DYP website

Queries can be directed to the Program Coordinator, via email or by phone 03 9645 6311

You’re invited to take part in the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee’s (NIDAC’s) first online consultation.

The consultation is in the form of an electronic survey and takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. This consultation is seeking the views of persons working to address the harms caused by alcohol in Indigenous communities and among Indigenous Australians. NIDAC is seeking views about possible interventions and resources that can help address alcohol problems and their harms in Indigenous communities around Australia.

For further information about the survey and to take part, please visit NIDAC Online Consultation 1: Alcohol.

More grog bans for Kimberley communities
Sydney Morning Herald, 31 March 2011
Two more Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley have adopted alcohol restrictions which ban the selling and supply of liquor. West Australian Racing and Wagering Minister Terry Waldron said the section 175 restriction were imposed after he was lobbied by members of the Looma and Pandanus Park communities.

Pub curfew for South Australia on the cards
Adelaide Now, 1 April 2011
A group representing businesses and major institutions in Adelaide's west end has backed plans for an early-morning curfew on South Australia's pubs and clubs.
The group's backing follows an initiative by the state government to reduce alcohol-fuelled crime and violence.

NT drinkers face nation's toughest laws
Bigpond News, 1 April 2011
A change in drinking habits is a long time coming for Alice Springs. Residents of the desert city have been pressing the Northern Territory government for months to stop a rising tide of grog-fuelled crime.

Coroner reveals toll of suicide
The West Australian, 1 April 2011
State Coroner Alastair Hope has described WA's suicide toll as a massive problem and told of his sadness that a case of suicide came across his desk every day. Mr Hope, who gives a verdict on sudden deaths in WA, said suicide notes revealed sexual abuse to be a major factor among people who kill themselves, as well as depression, alcohol abuse and drug use.

Licence to drink in battle against the booze
The Australian, 1 April 2011
The Northern Territory government has introduced a bill to establish the nation's toughest alcohol laws, which would ban problem drinkers from buying booze for three months and require every bottle-shop customer to have their driver's licence checked into a database before each purchase.