The Territory Labor Government is creating safer communities with the commencement of the floor price legislation today, designed to tackle alcohol related violence and crime by targeting problem drinkers.
The case for tackling alcohol abuse is clear:
Territorians drink more than anyone else in Australia per capita, and are even amongst the highest in the world.
Data from 2009 shows that alcohol related violence and crime is costing Territorians upwards of $640 million a year. Thats about $4,197 per adult, compared to $943 nationally.
The Territory has the highest rates of hospitalisations related to alcohol abuse in Australia
40% of all Territory road fatalities involve an illegal blood alcohol concentration.
The floor price is just one of the 219 recommendations from the Riley Review, designed to tackle alcohol related violence and crime stemming from alcohol abuse. As stated by Minister for Health and Attorney General, Natasha Fyles:
The Territory Labor Government is creating safer communities by introducing some of the most signification alcohol reforms in the Territorys history
There is simply too much alcohol fuelled crime, anti-social behaviour and social dysfunction in the Northern Territory.
Floor price legislation targets cheap bulk alcohol favoured by at-risk drinkers, without punishing those of us who enjoy a drink responsibly.
This means that a standard drink cannot be cheaper than $1.30. Products that will see a price increase will be cheap, high alcohol content cask, bottled, and fortified wine.
In order to ensure bottle shops dont increase the vast majority products that already meet the floor price, we have informed consumer affairs to keep a close watch on price changes as this initiative rolls out.
The majority of Territorians enjoy a drink responsibly, but there are many in the Territory whose abuse of alcohol is hurting our community, its hurting our businesses and its destroying individuals and families.
