Both Retail Drinks Australia and Hospitality NT have responded to the new alcohol restrictions that have been put in place by the Federal and Northern Territory Governments.
The Governments have introduced a range of measures in response to the ‘urgent challenges’ facing Alice Springs.
These include:
- Takeaway alcohol-free days on Monday and Tuesday
- Alcohol reduced hours on the remaining days from 3pm to 7pm only for takeaway alcohol
- One transaction per person each day
NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said: “These measures, coupled with the other restrictions and measures we have placed in the Northern Territory, along with an on-premise BDR blitz, will help reduce that alcohol in our community.”
In response to the measures, Retail Drinks Australia CEO, Michael Waters told The Shout: “Retail Drinks is committed to working with the Northern Territory Government and our Members to ensure compliance with the new trading rules and help manage this concerning situation.”
Hospitality NT, the peak industry body for the hospitality industry in the Northern Territory also responded, saying: “The local industry takes our responsibilities seriously and are playing our part to address the issues in and around Alice Springs.
“A vulnerable person coming to a bottleshop to purchase alcohol and drink to excess whilst neglecting their parental responsibilities represents a failure of all the agencies and wrap around services tasked with supporting that family.
“We look forward to a more concerted effort from agencies, support services and local indigenous leadership beyond these stop gap measures.
“Put simply we know supply restrictions in isolation do not lead to long term improvement.”