Port Augusta booze restrictions extended for a month
Tight restrictions on the sale of alcohol in Port Augusta have been extended for a further four weeks, the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner has announced, despite “mixed” feedback and “frustration” from the community.
Photo: Melanie Foster/AAP
The “temporary” alcohol restrictions – which came into force on February 8 in response to an “increase in alcohol-related offences and anti-social behaviour” – prohibit Port Augusta bottle shops from opening before 11am and limit customer purchases of spirits, fortified wine/port and 2L cask wine to one per day.
Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Dini Soulio on Tuesday said the restrictions would be extended for another four weeks based on advice from SA Police and local support services that there has been a “decline in alcohol-related incidents” since the curbs were introduced.
“The restrictions on opening times appear to have had a positive impact, with a drop in public consumption of alcohol, particularly earlier in the morning, that has enabled health and outreach services to engage with clients to provide counselling, medical assessments and other referral services,” Soulio said in a statement.
However, Soulio said the requirement for all bottle shops to record transactions in an electronic or handwritten record would be dropped, as would the classification of spirits as a restricted item.
“I appreciate there have been concerns about the requirements around recording identification and purchases on restricted sales and the practicalities of doing this,” he said, noting “mixed” community feedback on the overall proposal.
“I have considered the economic impact to licensees and inconvenience to local residents and tourists.
“And while the restrictions on purchases of spirits have been removed, I consider some restriction is still needed in relation to the quantities of cask wine and fortified wine that can be purchased in a single transaction to minimise bulk purchases of those products.”
Over the last fortnight, there has been only one acute intoxication presentation at the Port Augusta Hospital compared to “two to three per day” before the restrictions were introduced, according to data provided to the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner.
However, customers have also expressed “frustration” about the later opening times and licensees have been concerned about the expiry of 4L and 5L casks of wine.
The restrictions will either be revoked, varied or extended at close of trade on March 22.
