Table 3 Northern Territory alcohol-focused legislative interventions from 1979 to 2020 and respective publications arising
From: A historical overview of legislated alcohol policy in the Northern Territory of Australia: 1979–2021
Policy | Active years | Legislation | Location | Relevant publications and authors | Official evaluation | Babor’s area of alcohol policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Restricted Areas (including dry communities, remote community clubs and permit systems) | 12 February 1979 – present | Originally: Liquor Act 1978 (NT) Section 81 Present: Liquor Act 2019 (NT) Section 172–187 | In theory could be requested by any community In practise has only requested by Aboriginal communities | Overall GRA evaluations: d’Abbs [21]; Northern Territory Liquor Commission [22] Inquiry: Sessional Committee on Use and Abuse of Alcohol by the Community [23] Jaburi club sale restrictions evaluation: d’Abbs & Togni [24] + related academic publication: d’Abbs [25] Groote Eylandt permit scheme evaluation: Conigrave et al. [26] NT-wide evaluations of clubs: Shaw et al. [27] Gove Penisula permit scheme evaluation: d’Abbs et al. [28] NT-wide permit schemes evaluation report: d’Abbs & Crundall [29] +related academic publication: d’Abbs & Crundall [18] Policy analysis: d’Abbs et al. [19]; d’Abbs et al. [20] Discussed in: Barazani [30]; d’Abbs [31,32,33,34]; Larkins & McDonald [35]; NDRI [36] | Yes | 2. Regulating physical availability |
Change to NT wide takeaway alcohol outlet trading hours | July 1982 – unknown | Liquor (Amendment) Regulations 1982 No. 4 (NT) | NT wide | Evaluation: Drug and Alcohol Bureau [37] | Yes | 2. Regulating physical availability |
Public Drinking Legislation (2 km Law) (now included under Prohibited Public Places) | 1982 – present | Originally: Summary Offences Act (NT) Section 45D Shifted to Liquor Act 1978 (NT) Part VIIIB in 2012 Present: Liquor Act 2019 (NT) Section 171 | NT wide | Evaluations: Drug and Alcohol Bureau [38]; O’Connor [39] +related academic publication: O’Connor [40] Discussed in: Barazani [30]; d’Abbs [31, 32, 34, 41]; Larkins & McDonald [35]; National Drug Research Institute [36] | Yes | 3. Modifying the drinking environment |
Regulating strip shows in public bars | 1989 | Liquor Amendment Act 1989 (NT) | NT-wide | Academic publication: Boffa et al. [42] | No | 3. Modifying the drinking environment |
Living with Alcohol Program | 1 April 1992 – Dec 2002 Excise tax ceased 5 August 1997 | Originally: Amendments of the Liquor Regulations 1992 (NT) Impacted by: High Court of Australia combined decision in the cases of Walter Hammond and Associates v the State of NSW and others and Ha and anor v the State of NSW and others | NT wide | Overall evaluations: Crundall [43]; Chikritzhs et al. [3]; Chikritzhs et al. [44] + related academic publications: Chikritzhs et al. [45]; Stockwell et al. [46] Coin-operated breathalysers evaluation: Crundall [47] Cask Wine Levy evaluation (academic publication): Gray et al. [48] Commentaries: d’Abbs [49], d’Abbs [50]; Holder [51] (1 x response to Holder; Chikritzhs, Stockwell & Pascal [52]) Discussed in: Barazani [30] | Yes | 1. Pricing and taxation 2. Regulating physical availability 6. Education and persuasion 7. Treatment and early intervention |
Elliott Restrictions | 1993 – unknown | Originally: Liquor Act 1978 (NT) Section 33 Now: Liquor Act 2019 (NT) Section 113–115 | Elliott | Evaluation: Bennett et al. [53] Academic publication: Walley & Trindall [54] | Yes | 2. Regulating physical availability |
Lowing BAC | Dec 1994 - present | Traffic Amendment Act 1994 (NT) | NT-wide | No | 4. Drink-driving prevention and countermeasures | |
Racial Discrimination Act and ‘Special Measures’ | 1996 – present | Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cwt) Section 8(1) | Only applicable to Aboriginal communities | Evaluation (relevant to NT): d’Abbs et al. [55] Discussed in: Barazani [30]; d’Abbs [33]; d’Abbs & Togni [20]; Hunyor [56]; NDRI [36] | Yes | 2. Regulating physical availability |
Tennant Creek trial restrictions Ongoing restrictions Liquor Supply Plan / Alcohol Management Plan Emergency Restrictions | Aug 1995 – Feb 1996 20th April 1996 July 2006 – revised 1 August 2008 (Alcohol Management Plan added)- unknown 28 Feb 2018 - present | Originally: Liquor Act 1978 (NT) Section 33 Present: Liquor Act 2019 (NT) Section 113–115 | Tennant Creek | Evaluations: d’Abbs et al. [57], d’Abbs et al. [58]; d’Abbs et al. [59]; Gray et al. [60] +related academic publication: Gray et al. [61] Discussed in: Barazani [30], d’Abbs [33], d’Abbs & Togni [20], Ellis [62], NDRI [36], Smith et al. [63] | Yes | 2. Regulating physical availability, 3. Modifying the drinking environment |
Katherine restricted takeaway trading hours Liquor Supply Plan / Alcohol Management Plan | March 1999 - unknown 21 Jan 2007 – revised 2013 – unknown | Originally: Liquor Act 1978 (NT) Section 33 Present: Liquor Act 2019 (NT) Section 113–115. | Katherine | Evaluations: d’Abbs et al. [64]; d’Abbs & Whitty [65] Discussed in: National Drug Research Institute [36] | Yes | 2. Regulating physical availability |
Alice Springs trial restrictions Liquor Supply Plan / Alcohol Management Plan | 1 April 2002–31 March 2003 7 Sept 2006 – present with modifications | Originally: Liquor Act 1978 (NT) Section 33 Present: Liquor Act 2019 (NT) Section 113–115 | Alice Springs | Evaluations: Crundall & Moon [66] (responses Crundall [67]; Gray [68]); Senior et al. [69] (response MacKeith et al. [70]) Report: Symons et al. [71] Academic publication: Hogan et al. [72] Discussed in: Room [73] | Yes | 2. Regulating physical availability, 3. Modifying the drinking environment |
Alcohol Courts | 8 March 2006 - unknown | Originally: Alcohol Court Act 2006 | NT-wide | Discussed in: Senior et al. [69], MacKeith et al. [70], Symons et al. [71] | No | 7. Treatment and early intervention |
Public Restricted Areas (now included under Prohibited Public Places) | September 2006 – present | Originally: Liquor Act 1978 (NT) Section 86A-86G Present: Liquor Act 2019 (NT) Section 171 | NT-wide | Discussed in: d’Abbs [41]; d’Abbs [33]; d’Abbs et al. [64]; MacKeith et al. (2009); NDRI (2007); Senior et al. (2009); Symons et al. (2012) | No | 3. Modifying the drinking environment |
Substance Misuse and Referral for Treatment (SMART) Courts | 1 July 2011–1 July 2013 | Originally: Alcohol Reform (Substance Misuse and Referral for Treatment Court) Act 2011 (NT) Repealed by: Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Act 2013 (NT) | NT wide | Discussed in: Buckley [74] | No | 7. Treatment and early intervention |
Banned Drinker Register v1 | July 2011 – August 2012 (officially repealed 1 July 2013) | Originally: Alcohol Reform (Prevention of Alcohol-related Crime and Substance Misuse) Act 2011 Repealed by: Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Act 2013 (NT) | NT wide | Discussed in: Buckley [74]; d’Abbs [41]; Room [73], Smith [75]; Smith & Adamson [76] | No | 2. Regulating physical availability |
Alcohol Mandatory Treatment | 1 July 2013 – August 2016 (officially repealed 1 Sept 2017) | Originally: Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Act 2013 (NT) Repealed: Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 (NT) Section 46 | NT wide | Evaluation: PwC’s Indigenous Consulting [77] Academic publications: Lander et al. [78]; Ransley & Marchetti [79] | Yes | 7. Treatment and early intervention |
Alcohol Protection Orders | Dec 2013–1 Sept 2017 | Originally: Alcohol Protection Orders Act 2013 (NT) Repealed: Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 (NT) Section 46 | NT wide | No | 2. Regulating physical availability | |
Banned Drinker Register v2 | 2 Sept 2017 – present | Originally: Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 (NT) Present: Liquor Act (NT) 2019, Section 128–131 and Alcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 (NT) | NT wide | Evaluations: Ernst & Young [81]; Smith & Adamson [75]; Smith [76]; Smith et al. [80] Discussed in: Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education & People’s Alcohol Action Coalition [82]; Secombe et al. [83]; Smith et al. [12]; Wright, McAnulty & Secombe [84] | Yes | 2. Regulating physical availability; 4. Drink driving countermeasures, |
Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors (PALIs) | Aug 2018 – present | Originally: Liquor Amendment (Point of Sale Intervention) Act 2018 (NT) Present: Liquor Act 2019 (NT) Section 249 | Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs | Discussed in: Clifford et al. [10]; Coomber et al. [85]; Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education & People’s Alcohol Action Coalition [82]; Secombe et al. [83]; Taylor et al. [86]; Wright, McAnulty & Secombe [84]; | No | 2. Regulating physical availability |
Minimum Unit Price | 1 Oct 2018 – present | Originally: Liquor Amendment (Minimum Pricing) Act 2018 (NT) Present: Liquor Act 2019 (NT) Section 121 | NT wide | Evaluation: Coomber et al. [85] + related academic publication: Taylor et al. [86] Report: Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education & People’s Alcohol Action Coalition [82] Academic publications: Secombe et al. [87] (response: Clifford, Griffiths & Smith [10] Discussed in: Chikritzhs & Weeramanthri [88]; Secombe et al. [83]; Smith et al. [12]; Wright, McAnulty & Secombe [84] | Yes | 1. Pricing and taxation |