Restrictions to takeaway alcohol sales in Mparntwe / Alice Springs will continue after a significant reduction of alcohol-related crime and key identifiers, the Northern Territory Government has confirmed.
Since February, takeaway sales have only been available only between 3pm-7pm Wednesdays to Fridays, 11am-8pm on Saturdays and public holidays - not including Christmas Day and Good Friday, and from pubs with drive-through bottle shops and by members of a club between noon and 9pm on Sundays.
A restriction of one purchase per person per day has been enforced.
Takeaways are not available on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The measures were adopted in February, shortly before the reintroduction of wider, strict alcohol bans in Central Australia in February amid a surge in alcohol-related crime.
The NT Government had been due to consider the continuation of provisions ahead of their July expiry, having already extending the bans over the previous three months.
On Wednesday, a release from Chief Minister Natasha Fyles' office said the measures are having "the desired impact".
Recent crime statistics for Alice identified a significant reduction in alcohol-related harm, hospital emergency department presentations and assaults alongside decreases in child protective custody rates.
A halving of domestic violence rates was also identified.
In June, People's Alcohol Action Coalition spokesperson and Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation chief medical officer Dr. John Boffa said the data presents an "obvious" positive trajectory.
"When you look at the data it's obvious that we are now getting back to the levels we saw before the Stronger Futures alcohol provisions we're allowed to lapse in July 2022," Dr Boffa said.
Dr Boffa backed takeaway restrictions as a key component of the current wider legislation in place.
"There's good evidence both of these measures are working synergistically and adding to each other," he said
The Chief Minister's office agreed that "we need to make sure momentum is not halted".
"Alcohol-related harm is one of the Territory's biggest social challenges, which is why addressing it is one of the Territory Government's biggest priorities," Ms Fyles said.
"From risk-based licensing to the Banned Drinkers Register, from the minimum floor price to our Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors, and with record funding for alcohol treatment services and domestic, family and sexual violence, we continue to do more than any previous government to tackle this problem. But we know we've still got more work to do.
"Our Police officers, our hospital staff and our social sector, who work in Alice have been loud and clear – they are all telling us that these restrictions need to stay in place. We are listening to them.
"I know that some retailers may not like this approach. It's a difficult decision, but it's the right decision. It has to be done. And I thank retailers and other businesses for continuing to work with us."
The NT Government will continue to monitor data to inform ongoing policy.
