Federal Government inquiry into the number of liquor outlets

This week's column is about a Federal Government inquiry into the number of liquor outlets.

This press release was distributed on Friday by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Christopher Pyne.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Christopher Pyne, voiced concern about the growth in the number of liquor outlets, including discount liquor outlets, and the impact they have on the health of Australians at the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy today.

At Mr Pyne's instigation the Ministerial Council agreed to establish a working group to look at the state liquor licensing regulations, and the means by which they can address the spread of these stores in concert with National Competition Policy guidelines.

"One of the outcomes of the National Competition Policy has been the proliferation of licensed outlets in some areas. This is something the Ministerial Council has agreed to look at.

"Research shows the social costs of alcohol-related harm to be enormous - somewhere in the order of $7.6 billion each year to our community.

"The Victorian Government has recently passed legislation that enables the consideration of various other factors, such as social, economic and environmental factors when granting liquor licenses.

"Other states could learn from the Victorian example and consider similar legislation."

The Commonwealth Government supports and encourages the state and territory governments to introduce legislation to promote responsible sale of alcohol in the community.

CAAN Director, Geoff Munro says …

We support Minister Pyne's call for a review of liquor licensing. Several times this year GrogWatch has reported on local councils (e.g. Yarra, Casey) agitating to reassert control over the number of licensed premises in their area, and the days and hours in which they trade. The reason in both those cases was to limit the harm to the community from violence and vandalism linked to excessive drinking.

Over the past two decades licensing has been liberalised in the name of competition, as though alcohol was a commodity like bread or petrol, rather than a potentially dangerous drug. We have forgotten that much research indicates that increasing availability leads to increased consumption and that leads to higher incidence of problems, particularly among vulnerable populations.

By giving liquor licenses to the widest array of businesses (bookshops, hairdressers) and extending trading hours around the clock, we have promoted drinking on every possible occasion. Why do we pretend to be surprised when our kids think drinking is synonymous with a good time?

However we don't understand Minister Pyne's suggestion that Victoria 's legislation is a model. It is as hard for the public to successfully object to a license application in Victoria as in any other state. And Victoria has removed the restriction which prevented large businesses from dominating the packaged liquor sector. Now Coles Myer and Safeway are likely to control it and they have already engaged in a discount alcohol war.

Perhaps the penny will drop when churches want a liquor license. That used to be unthinkable.

Is nothing sacred?

GrogWatcher Andrew has sent us an interesting story from Paddington, Sydney.

The Paddington Uniting Church has applied for a Liquor License for functions in the Church Hall. The Church currently has a POPE license (Place of Public Entertainment) which allows functions three times a week between Thursdays and Sundays. Thursday and Sunday events have to finish by 10pm and there is a midnight finish time for Friday and Saturday. Earlier this year the Church applied for a Theatre license which provides for liquor to be sold alongside live or recorded performances. It will allow the sale of liquor between 8pm and 11pm , only at ticketed events and bans byo and takeaway liquor. The South Paddington Residents Group is protesting the license and the matter will now be heard in the NSW Licensing Court in late June. The residents report that the Church Hall is used for many live music performances and it is quite an entertainment hub in the community. However, they say a liquor license is completely inappropriate, especially as it is the Uniting Church who has applied. They also report that the Church runs a soup kitchen during the day from the same building where alcohol will be sold at night.

GrogWatcher Andrew said, "It's a shame that the Church feels that to enjoy music there needs to be alcohol."

The Minister for the Parish, Warwick Cadenhead told GrogWatch that the liquor license was applied for because enjoyment of musical events is 'enhanced by having a civilized drink' and also because the Church Hall was not a large venue and the sale of alcohol would help cover costs.

The Residents Group has run a well-organised campaign to try and prevent the license application succeeding. They've spoken out at a recent local council meeting, done a letterbox drop of residents, distributed contact details for residents to protest directly to the Church, the local MP and local government representatives, written letters to the editor of their local papers, got a hearing at the Licensing Court and approached CAAN for advice and publicity. GrogWatcher Andrew said the church should have consulted the Residents Group first before submitting the license application. If the license application is successful then the residents can apply to have it reviewed later when it is demonstrated that noise, violence or anti-social behaviour has occurred. We'll keep you posted.

A roundup of alcohol news

Sex will still sell for Cougar's New Brand

CUB brand Cougar plans to launch Cougar Rum later this month and is expected to use the busty barmaid image, this time in a red singlet top. The launch campaign is likely to feature ads at point of sale rather than a television commercial.
B & T, p3, 13/5/05

Jack Awards Update

The second annual Jack Awards held in Sydney to honour live music and sponsored by Jack Daniels allowed plenty of opportunities for the sponsor to promote its product. Ex Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee used two water pistols filled with Jack Daniels to spray the crowd.
B & T p32, 13/5/05

Drinking Games

Following yesterday's SMH article about the bidding war for the naming rights sponsorship of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next year between Heineken and CUB, Odyssey House CEO, David Crosbie has a letter to the editor in the Herald Sun and The Age saying it is about time we put the brakes on alcohol companies buying our elite sporting events.
The Age, p12, Herald Sun, p16

Alcohol Problem Plagues Suburb

Manly is plagued by a chronic and destructive alcohol problem but a committee set up by Manly Council is unable to solve it due to a dispute over shrinking opening hours from 4am to 2am.
Daily Telegraph, p10, 17/5/05

Teens off to the Pub

800 teens will head to Richmond 's Corner Bar for the first day event for minors under the State Govt's new licensing laws. The pub will open on Saturday to 13-17 year olds to hear live music as part of Coca Cola's Live'n Local tour. The pub will be delicensed for the gig and will also have to conceal alcohol and alcohol branding.
Herald Sun, p26, 22/5/05

Socceroo Captain Sackec

German club Borussia Monchengladbach has terminated the contract of Australian international Craig Moore, claiming he turned up drunk for training.
SMH online, 23/5/05

Crumpler Bags Love Beer

For the past few years Crumpler bags has run a campaign where you can bring in a slab of beer to a crumpler store and swap it for a trendy bag. The more expensive the beer, the more expensive the bag you get. The company stockpiles the beer and then has a party where the beer is given away. CAAN has challenged the company about this practice and last year it gave an undertaking that age restrictions would be enforced. Just this week however, an article appeared in the free Melbourne commuter giveaway, City Weekly which proves the company's love affair with beer is enduring. Click here to read it.

OTHER UPDATES

The 6th Annual Rural Victorian Alcohol & Drug Conference

Victoria 's ONLY rural-focused Alcohol & other Drug Conference is happening again this year on August 11 and 12. This year, not only includes a great line-up of speakers and workshop leaders, but also initiation of 'Key Recommendations', and a Futurist-in-Residence to inspire delegates and help plan outside the squqre.

To be held in Warrnambool, invitations to register will be coming soon. In the meantime, for more info contact Cecilia Weuffen, Conference Co-ordinator at cweuffen@bigpond.com 0418 520 976

Drink Safe to Curb Local Violence

Frankston City Council has received $32,000 from the Victorian Law En for cement Drug Fund for the operation of the Frankston Drink Safe Project. A recent report on Frankston and the peninsula found higher rates of tobacco and alcohol-related deaths, hospitalizations, higher rates of alcohol related assaults and higher incidents of domestic violence involving alcohol compared to other regions in Victoria . Additionally, a community consultation will be held in June during Drug Action Week to identify possible solutions to alcohol-related crime.

From our friends at the Marin Institute, here is an interesting US based alcohol news story:

Supreme Court: State to Decide Question of Internet Alcohol Sales: Coalition for a Safe and Responsible Michigan Says Internet Sales are Unsafe

Yahoo.com, May 16, 2005
The Supreme Court decision handed down today reaffirmed Michigan's right to regulate the sale and distribution of alcohol within its borders -- but said the state must ban in-state alcohol producers from selling over the Internet if it will not allow out-of-state producers to do the same.

In a 5-4 ruling, the Court struck down laws in Michigan and New York that restricted out-of-state producers from bypassing the state's regulations and selling over the Internet. Michigan currently allows for in-state wine producers to ship and sell wine directly, while for bidding out-of-state companies from doing the same. Today's ruling effectively says that states must decide whether everyone or no one can sell alcohol over the Internet.

"This decision puts the ability to protect our communities and youth back in the hands of the Michigan citizens," said Betty Mercer, director of the Coalition for a Safe and Responsible Michigan. "It is the intention of the Coalition to continue to support ef for ts to keep our communities safe from the unregulated sale of alcohol."