December 2013 edition of Public Sphere
Latest news and comment from the Social Policy & Parliamentary Unit.
> download the December 2013 edition of the Public Sphere newsletter (PDF, 912KB)
EDITORIAL
On December 18 2013 the latest Alcohol Law reforms will come into full effect around our nation—just in time for the period of the year when liquor is at its most popular. Bars, clubs and restaurants must now close between
4am and 8am, and bottle shops between 11pm and 7am. Parents must give express consent for minors to drink, or risk a criminal offence punishable by a $2000 FINE. Police can now issue spot fines for people who drink in a liquor ban area. And supermarkets will be required to restrict their display of alcohol to a particular area of the store and face limits on how sales are pitched. Whether these changes result in a reduction in harm from our country’s favourite drink is another matter.