The Territory Labor Government’s alcohol reforms aimed at cutting alcohol related crime and antisocial behaviour and harm across the Northern Territory are working.
The first independent evaluation on the floor price, Investigating the introduction of the alcohol minimum unit price in the Northern Territory, has been released today.
The report shows declines in alcohol-related harm across a range of key areas, most significantly in:
- alcohol-related assault offences (a 23% reduction in alcohol related assaults across the Territory in 2018/19 compared to the same period in 2017/18);
- alcohol-related emergency department (ED) presentations (17.3% reduction in ED presentations in the NT in 2018/19 compared to the same period in 2017/18);
- the number of child protection notifications, protection orders, and out-of-home care cases;
- alcohol-related road traffic crashes (resulting in injury or fatality); and
- alcohol-related ambulance attendances.
The independent research, led by Professor Peter Miller from Deakin University’s Centre for Drug use, Addictive and Anti-social Behaviour Research Centre (CEDAAR), shows the minimum unit price is contributing to the reduction of harms associated with alcohol.
This reform is part of a suite of measures – including bringing back the BDR – to cut crime and antisocial behaviour and lower alcohol-related harm across the territory.
The Territory Labor Government’s far-reaching alcohol reforms are part of the Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan 2018-2019, advising from the 2017 Riley Review.
Visit https://alcoholreform.nt.gov.au/publications to view the full report.
Quotes from Minister for Health and Attorney-General, Natasha Fyles:
“We are putting Territorians first with nation-leading alcohol reforms to cut alcohol related crime and antisocial behaviour and make our community safer.
“Our strong measures across minimum unit price, bringing back the banned drinkers register and PALIs are responsible for these positive results.
“While this is a hugely pleasing snapshot of the first 12 months showing significant declines across seven key areas, we recognise there is still more work to be done and the job doesn’t stop here.”
Quotes from Director, CEDAAR, Professor Peter Miller:
“The introduction of the MUP has reduced cask wine sales, and some associated harms, without impacting the price of other beverages in the Northern Territory.
“the methods used in this report have allowed for an assessment of changes across a range of outcomes and the staggered implementation of different policy elements in different locations allows for some teasing out of differential impacts.
“While these are promising outcomes, providing crucial baseline and interim findings, changes in social trends require more time to be certain and longer term evaluations are needed."
Media contact: Hannah West 0436 641 108