Western Australia has marked another milestone in its Banned Drinkers Register (BDR) trials, completing a full rollout of the trial in the Kimberley last week.
The two year trial started with a soft launch in May, and followed the successful rollout of the trial in the Pilbara region. This means that all customers who want to buy takeaway at any store in either region will need to have a valid form of photo ID scanned against the BDR. If a customer is on the BDR, or does not provide ID, they will be refused service. As of July 14, 774,000 IDs have been scanned in the Pilbara, while more than 300,000 have been scanned in the Kimberley.
Across both regions, there are 157 scanners operating in licensed venues, with 80 people now on the register. A substantial amount of these people have voluntarily placed themselves on the register to remove their access to takeaway alcohol – in the Kimberley alone, 21 of the 34 residents on the BDR have been voluntarily placed.
Peter Peck, CEO of the Liquor Stores Association of WA (LSA WA) said these results were evidence the industry-lead trial is clearly something the community wants and supports.
“It’s a positive outcome and the results we’re seeing are encouraging not only for our members but for the wider community,” Peck said.
“The fact that 61 per cent of people have chosen to be on the BDR in the Kimberley, rather than be told they have to be on the list, is a strong vote of confidence.”
After such impressive early results in the Pilbara and now the Kimberley, the BDR will ramp up even further in WA in the coming months, with an expected rollout across the Kalgoorlie-Boulder and wider Goldfields region later this year. This is also aided by an announcement from Scantek, the technology provider behind the BDR, about a ‘world-first’ mobile app in support of the current scanning technology.
Scantek Chief Executive, Ches Rafferty, said the app complements the physical units to provide businesses with an easier BDR scanning experience that suits the set up of their venue or store.
“The app we have developed can be used on a tablet or smart phone and provides greater practicality and flexibility for licensees who may have a drive-through bottle service,” Rafferty said.
“It also enables the licensees to continue to focus on running a small business but at the same time help reduce anti-social behaviour.”
Rafferty unveiled the app with Racing, Gaming and Liquor Minister Reece Whitby in Broome last week.
Minister Whitby spoke positively about the app in conjunction with the entire BDR trial in the state, and said: “The successful rollout of the BDR trial in the Pilbara has given us every confidence in achieving the same success in the Kimberley region.
“By slowly introducing the trial, it has given consumers and licensees time to get used to the requirements and new technology. The introduction of the BDR/TAMS app will help make the program more accessible and flexible.”
Divina D’Anna, Kimberley MLA, commended the WA government and all the stakeholders involved with the BDR for the success the trial is already showing.
“There is no easy fix to addressing the destructive behaviour that comes from alcohol abuse and other long-standing issues in the community. However, the BDR trial is one of a number of initiatives the Government is using to protect the vulnerable and provide support for those facing alcohol addiction,” D’Anna said.
“I would like to congratulate all those that have made this trial possible including the licensees, community advocates and the Kimberley’s four local governments.”