By James Atkinson
Responsible service initiatives introduced by NSW liquor stores are succeeding and the sector can boast a "fantastic" regulatory compliance record, according to Liquor Stores Association NSW CEO Terry Mott.
At Friday's LSA NSW Awards for Excellence, Mott said NSW liquor stores have continued to reduce the potential supply of liquor to minors through the ALSA consumer education campaigns ID-25 and 'Don't Buy It For Them'.
"Both of these initiatives will be included in the new Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing Alcohol Resource for Secondary Schools following LSA NSW participation in the working group for that program," he said.
Mott said the ALSA Product Ranging Guidelines have also assisted member stores to make informed and reasonable individual choices about the products they choose to range in their stores.
He said these initiatives have contributed to "excellent outcomes and a fantastic regulatory compliance record" for NSW packaged liquor licensees.
Mott said packaged liquor licensees have recorded near zero breaches for underage service or secondary supply, and there have been no complaints about inappropriate products being ranged by its members.
He added that LSA NSW encourages members to support government interventions that are evidence-based and proven to have some real impact on reducing harms from misuse of alcohol, "not simply placing more economic pressure on retailers through the regulatory environment".