Western Australia tourist mecca Broome will introduce tough liquor restrictions in the town from July.
The Broome Liquor Accord, which is made up of local retailers and residents, has agreed to the move in a bid to reduce alcohol-related harm in the community.
As part of the 12-month trial of restrictions, sales will be limited to two bottles of wine and a carton of beer, or one bottle of spirits, per person, per day.
An electronic management system will allow bottleshop owners to monitor people’s purchases across Broome. The takeaway alcohol management system, or TAMS, requires buyers to scan their identification at the bottle shop and is designed to stop people loading up on grog at multiple venues.
ABC News reports that Woolworths, through its BWS outlets, “has expressed willingness to be part of the process, but Coles’ involvement is yet to be finalised”.
Publican Stewart Burchell runs the historic Roebuck Bay Hotel and he believed industry had a role to play in addressing the issue.
“It really has to be unanimous for it to work,” he said. “As community-minded leaders, we’re going to come to the party.”
Broome follows similar regional moves
Similar restrictions are coming into effect in Kununurra and the Pilbara at the end of March.
Residents will no longer be able to buy packaged liquor, cask and fortified wine, and beer in glass bottles bigger than 750ml on Sundays.
Customers will only be allowed to buy one carton of full-strength beer a day, three bottles of wine, and one litre of spirits. Tourists will be exempt if they can prove they are travellers and the alcohol will be consumed outside of town. The regulation will be backed up by the tourist’s details being provided to local police within 24 hours.
Discounted alcohol promotions will also be banned, plus any promotions linking alcohol with any prize or other incentive.
People will be able to order bulk supplies of alcohol if they fill in a form three days earlier, which is provided to police, and taxis will no longer be able to purchase alcohol on behalf of people.
