The Western Australian Government has introduced a package of liquor law reforms to Parliament that will make the Banned Drinkers Register (BDR) a permanent fixture in regional parts of the state.
Liquor retailers and industry groups have broadly welcomed the move but are also calling for complementary investment in wraparound services to improve its long-term effectiveness.
The BDR, which was first introduced as a trial nearly five years ago, targets individuals who commit alcohol-related offences or are deemed at risk of alcohol-related harm. Banned individuals are prevented from purchasing takeaway alcohol in designated Banned Drinker Areas (BDAs), including the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, and the towns of Carnarvon and Gascoyne Junction.
The permanent establishment of the BDR follows two independent evaluations, which found it had a positive impact on reducing alcohol-related harm in regional WA. These evaluations noted widespread community and stakeholder support, including from WA Police, local governments, health services, and the liquor and hospitality sectors.
Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said the BDR had become an important tool to help regional communities deal with alcohol-related harm and anti-social behaviour.
“Alcohol-related offending is a long-standing, complex issue. There is no easy fix, but the BDR is one of a range of effective measures in place to help protect the health and wellbeing of our community,” Minister Papalia said.
“These measures include targeted liquor restrictions, carriage limits in some areas, the declaration of dry communities at the request of Aboriginal elders and their communities, as well as Protected Entertainment Precincts in the Perth metropolitan area.”
Under the proposed legislation, the sunset clause currently applying to the BDR will be removed. The reforms also make it compulsory for licensees in the affected regions to use the system.
Support with a call for reform
Retail Drinks Australia CEO Michael Waters welcomed the move to make the BDR permanent, emphasising the industry’s long-standing support for targeted, community-led harm minimisation tools.
“Retail Drinks welcomes the WA Government’s intention to permanently enshrine the Banned Drinker Register (BDR) in legislation,” Waters said.
“We’ve long supported the development and implementation of the BDR as a targeted, localised policy measure to help address problematic drinking behaviours by those individuals who continue to misuse and abuse alcohol.
“We look forward to continuing to work productively and collaboratively with the WA Government to ensure the BDR remains a robust and effective tool in reducing alcohol-related harm in the communities in which it is present.”
The Liquor Stores Association of Western Australia (LSA WA) has also backed the BDR as a core component of WA’s alcohol harm minimisation efforts but warned that its effectiveness is being limited by inadequate health and social support services.
Deloitte Access Economics’ independent evaluation of the BDR called for a “whole-of-government response” to ensure its long-term impact, with LSA WA CEO Peter Peck urging authorities to act on the report’s findings.
“It’s been like Groundhog Day for the past few years – I’ve always said to fix the people you need to target your resources on health and mental health services,” Peck said.
“I’m glad this report has urged the Health Department and the Mental Health Commission to take an active lead.
“This isn’t a shiny vanity project – this needs to be life changing,” he stressed.
“Anecdotally we’ve known what we’ve needed to make this work – now it’s in black and white, there are no more excuses. Let’s just get the job done,” Peck added.
The Deloitte report recommended expanding culturally appropriate rehabilitation services, boosting police enforcement to reduce secondary supply, and investing in public education to improve community understanding of the BDR’s function.
Supporting measures for retailers and small business
In addition to the BDR, the WA Government’s reform package includes several proposed changes designed to ease compliance burdens and improve business viability for liquor retailers, small bars and venues across the state.
These include:
- Removing restrictions on serving alcohol only with a meal on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
- Allowing longer trading hours on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day.
- Raising the maximum patron limit for small bars.
- Abolishing the requirement for licensees to renew extended trading permits.
- Increasing penalties for breaches of WA liquor laws, including higher fines for unlicensed alcohol sales and excessive carriage.
According to the State Government, these reforms are aimed at simplifying and modernising WA’s liquor licensing system to better support the hospitality, liquor and tourism industries.
“The reforms are designed to make it easier and more cost-effective for businesses to open and operate, while also continuing to protect the community from alcohol-related harm,” Minister Papalia said.
The proposed legislation is now before the Western Australian Parliament, with industry stakeholders urging bipartisan support to ensure timely implementation.
For liquor retailers operating in or supplying to regional WA, the permanent rollout of the BDR – and the broader package of liquor law reforms – signals a shift toward a more locally responsive and flexible regulatory landscape. But as both Retail Drinks and LSA WA have made clear, the long-term success of harm minimisation measures like the BDR will hinge on stronger partnerships across government and better investment in community health and wellbeing.
As the sector continues to navigate the evolving regulatory environment, many liquor operators will be watching closely to see how these reforms are implemented – and whether the necessary support services follow.