Back | Print

 

A Northern Territory Government initiative to curb alcohol abuse and misuse will become law next week.

 

The Licensing Minister Chris Burns said the use of an electronic ID system to buy takeaway alcohol would begin in Katherine and Alice Springs from next Monday.

 

“If residents don’t have photo ID that can be scanned through the system, they won’t be able to buy takeaway alcohol,” he said.

 

Dr Burns said the electronic ID system is aimed at reducing excessive and harmful consumption of alcohol by:

 

• identifying those people who have already bought their allowable quantity of certain products and therefore stop them “shopping around”

 

• identifying those people with court-imposed prohibition orders or bail conditions that restrict alcohol consumption

 

“Those people who have a problem with alcohol will be flagged and we can start to address the destructive cycle they are in,” Dr Burns said.

 

Under the new legislation, it will be an offence to sell liquor to anyone prohibited by the system.

 

A breach will attract a maximum penalty of up to $2200 or an on-the-spot fine of $100. Prosecution or an infringement notice will also be available for each breach.

 

The system can recognise 19 forms of local and national photo ID and more than 150 international forms of identification.

 

 

Media contact: Andrea Adlam 0401 119467

Related files:
Burns 160608 ID Legislation begins.pdf ( 325.22 kb )