Territorians can expect faster scanning speeds with new and improved Banned Drinker Register (BDR) devices to be rolled out across the Territory from this week.
The BDR is a valuable tool to assist in reducing alcohol related harm in the Northern Territory and Territorians are well used to providing photo identification to purchase takeaway alcohol.
The current BDR scanning equipment is reaching its end-of-life and the new system being rolled out will reduce the time it takes to scan licences from 10 to 1.3 seconds.
Other improvements to the system include smart use of tablets to significantly streamline technology required to scan licences.
The new tablets will make it faster for liquor outlets to serve their customers, with customers appreciating an enhanced experience at the checkout or drive through.
The BDR identifies people who are banned from purchasing takeaway alcohol and stops their purchase. There are nearly 250 BDR devices in operation in more than 160 takeaway liquor venues throughout the Northern Territory.
As at July there were 2,857 people on the BDR, with 355 sales declined that month due to being on BDR.
The rollout of new equipment is expected to be completed in November 2022.
Quotes from Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles:
"The Territory Labor Government kept our promise to bring back the BDR - and action a raft of other evidence based measures to reduce alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour.
"The Banned Drinker Register is one part of a suite of comprehensive measures to tackle alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour. This includes giving police the power to shut down bottle shops caught irresponsibly selling alcohol, stationed Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors on bottle shops and banned additional takeaway Liquor Licenses."
Quotes from Minister for Corporate and Digital Development, Ngaree Ah Kit:
"The new system will replace outdated scanning equipment, deliver faster licence scanning and reduce issues experienced by some outlets.
"The new scanning equipment is designed to work hand-in-hand with new NT driver's licenses which provide improved security to better protect Territorians from identity theft. The system is also future proofed to work with digital licences issued in other Australian jurisdictions."
Northern Territory Government
