Crime Stoppers NT has announced a new campaign to target sly grogging across the Territory.
The campaign joins forces with NT Police and retailers to raise awareness about the perils of secondary alcohol supply and asks for support to help catch ‘grog runners’, who fuel the black market business that undermines the health and safety of communities.
Through online advertising and prominent campaign posters displayed at key locations, the new campaign also reminds people about legal regulations, discouraging the sale or supply of alcohol from unauthorised individuals or unlicensed stores.
Chair of Crime Stoppers NT, Catherine Phillips, explained the issue around sly grogging and said: “There are some individuals who buy alcohol on behalf of their banned drinker relatives and friends, bypassing the intended restrictions.
“We want everyone to understand that when they do that, they risk being placed on the Banned Drinking Register and receiving significant penalties.
“Our campaign also takes aim at criminals who transport alcohol across local or jurisdiction boundaries to sell it in the black market within restricted areas. We know that despite current measures, a significant quantity of alcohol continues to enter our communities without being lawfully sold through licensed outlets.”
Crime Stoppers noted the importance of a campaign like this, as it brings everyone together to address a serious problem. It’s a timely issue as alcohol-related harm continues to be a key issue in the NT, with Crime Stoppers pointing to the latest waste water testing results released by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission in March this year. This data found that regional NT ranked first nationally in consumption of alcohol.
“Given the unique challenges we face in the Northern Territory, it is imperative that we work together as a community to address secondary supply effectively. By educating ourselves, reporting suspicious activities, and supporting licensed venues, we can make a real difference in reducing the harm caused by alcohol,” Phillips added.
Retail Drinks CEO, Michael Waters, said the association and its members were pleased to be supporting the campaign.
“Our support for this campaign is part of our commitment to help address issues related to supply of alcohol to minors, including our long-standing industry responsibility initiatives, including ‘Don’t Buy It For Them’,” Waters said.
“Don’t Buy It For Them is an initiative designed to discourage secondary supply and to educate the community on their shared responsibility not to supply to minors – or vulnerable people – and highlights the penalties for doing so. It also reinforces staff awareness and confidence to refuse service when in doubt, with back-up point-of-sale material.
“We would strongly encourage anyone aware of sly grogging activities or secondary supply to anonymously report this behaviour either through Crime Stoppers NT’s dedicated website or calling 1800 333 000.”
While this campaign is targeted at the NT, at its core are important steps that individuals and communities can take around the country to help effectively tackle alcohol-related harm coming from sly grogging. Crime Stoppers NT identified these steps below:
- Education and awareness: Understand the law, restrictions and personal risks associated with secondary supply and the potential legal and health consequences.
- Reporting: If anyone has information about secondary supply activity and grog-running, they can anonymously report what they know to Crime Stoppers – because every tip received has the potential to prevent further crimes.
- Supporting licensed venues: Backing licensed venues that sell alcohol legally can help decrease the demand for secondary supply. This support also promotes responsible drinking habits and reduces the risk of alcohol-related harm.