The Australian Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory has urged all sides of politics to commit to maintaining the minimum unit price, or floor price, of alcohol in the Northern Territory.
AMSANT (Aboriginal Medical Services Northern Territory) CEO, Dr John Paterson, said removing the floor price would lead to more alcohol abuse, more crime and more disadvantage.
"It's a vicious cycle but for many people it all starts with cheap grog," Mr Paterson said.
"Right now, the minimum price of alcohol is $1.30 and we expect that removing the floor price would see that drop to as little as 25 cents based on experience in other places.
"The result will be more problem drinking and we know the impact this has on communities and families, especially as it relates to domestic violence.
"No one wants to see more harm in our communities and a floor price on alcohol is one important tool in the kit to manage the problem."
Dr Paterson said the effectiveness of the floor price was waning, not because it does work, but because we have failed to index the floor price as originally promised.
"The floor price must be kept and indexed – if we had stuck to that commitment, it would currently be around $1.50 per drink and having a bigger impact," he said.
Dr Paterson said Aboriginal organisations, community organisations and businesses would all see damage in their organisations with removal of the floor price.
"I can't think of a single person or organisation that benefits from removing the floor price of alcohol, except the alcohol companies and retailers that profit from people's suffering. In many cases, even the retailers support the floor price," he said.
"It's very sad really because we have been down this path before, and we know what will happen.
"Along with other organisations like PAAC, we warned of the damage that would result from the lapse of the Stronger Futures alcohol restrictions in 2022 and the removal of the BDR in 2013.
"It just seems that these same old bad policies keep getting dug up from the grave like zombies, back to haunt us again. It's time that we learnt from the past and exercised some common sense."
Dr Paterson echoed calls from PAAC for the Alice Springs Brewing Company to come under the same arrangements that apply to all other take-away licensees.
"We asked the Government to address the loophole in July that allows the Alice Springs Brewing Company to sell alcohol on Mondays and Tuesdays, outside the town's restricted take-away hours, and without inspectors checking ID, but sales continue, and this must stop," he said.
National Indigenous Times has contacted NT Minister for Alcohol Policy Brent Potter for comment.
