News
A groundbreaking new report provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of how major alcohol reforms have shaped health, safety and community wellbeing across the NT.
The LEARNT project (LEarning from Alcohol (Policy) Reforms in the Northern Territory) led by Deakin University’s Professor Peter Miller, and funded through the Australian Research Council, examined the reintroduction of the Banned Drinker Register (BDR) alongside other alcohol control initiatives, including the Minimum Unit Price (MUP), Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors (PALIs) and the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic.
A partnership with the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT), Menzies School of Health Research, the Northern Territory Government, Curtin University and the Northern Territory Primary Healthcare Network, the LEARNT project gathered epidemiological data, linked individual records, and more than 200 indepth interviews with people on the banned drinks register, their families, industry representatives, police and key service providers.
Professor Miller from Deakin’s School of Psychology said the findings suggested the alcohol measures had some positive outcomes in the short to medium term but continued engagement and more adaptation were needed.
‘The LEARNT report shows policy change can reduce alcohol-related harm, but only when it is implemented with community partnership and alignment across health, justice and social services,’ Professor Miller said.
With all policy interventions, there were unintended consequences, but future adaptations can improve the policies with the clear goal of improving outcomes in the longer term.
Professor Peter Miller
Key findings
Alcohol Consumption and Harm Trends
- Alcohol consumption showed minor fluctuations, with a significant 50% reduction in cask wine sales following the 2018 MUP.
- A decline in assaults was recorded from early 2018 to mid-2019 during the combined implementation of the BDR, MUP and PALIs.
- Alcohol-induced deaths continued to fall from 17.8 per 100,000 (2015) to 7.2 per 100,000 (2022), bringing them close to the national average for the first time.
- Emergency department presentations decreased after a person first appeared on the BDR, though hospital admissions rose.
Lived Experience and Community Impacts
- Interviews found that many people on the BDR felt that alcohol supply controls did not address underlying causes such as trauma, mental health or community stressors.
- Some participants reported reduced access and consumption – particularly when BDR restrictions were combined with voluntary treatment support.
- Families frequently described strain, including pressure to act as 'enforcers' and instances of secondary supply.
- Experiences of racism and discriminatory treatment were commonly reported, especially in interactions with PALIs.
Treatment and Support Services
- Substantive treatment episodes dipped immediately after the BDR’s reintroduction before gradually rising.
- Few people linked their BDR order with entering treatment, highlighting the need for better pathways to culturally responsive care.
- Key informants emphasised the necessity of local, community-controlled and trauma-informed health services.
Policy options for government consideration
Based on the LEARNT findings, researchers have developed a suite of evidence-informed policy options to reduce alcohol-related harm while strengthening community voice and cultural safety.
Professor Miller stressed these options would require feasibility assessment, consultation and cost analysis.
1.Retain and modify the banned drinker register, improving:
- Referral pathways to culturally appropriate social and emotional wellbeing and AOD services.
- A coordinated three-way working group involving social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and AOD services, to design referral systems and shared governance.
- Piloting banned drinking register scanning in high-harm on premise venues and exploring new technologies (e.g. biometric options).
- Expanding data collection to help identify and manage secondary supply.
2. Further Restrict Alcohol Trading Hours
Substantial evidence, including from the NT, shows that trading hour restrictions reduce alcohol-related assaults and domestic violence. Targeted or territory-wide restrictions could be considered, informed by local consultation.
3. Reintroduce and increase the minimum unit price
The minimum unit prices is one of the most cost-effective policies to reduce heavy drinking and alcohol-related harm.
4. Establish a cross jurisdictional policing working group
To address cross-border alcohol supply and grog running, a regular forum between NT, WA, SA and Queensland police, supported by health and licensing agencies, is proposed.
5. Retain police auxiliary liquor inspectors with review and reform
Review police auxiliary liquor inspector training, recruitment, community engagement and the requirement to be armed and allow inspectors to complete banned drug register scanning to reduce duplication and improve customer experience.
6. Implement cognitive screening across AOD, corrections and youth services
High rates of cognitive impairment among justice-involved and AOD-involved populations require tailored, trauma-informed responses. Territory-wide screening would improve treatment effectiveness and justice outcomes.
7. Introduce place based daily alcohol purchase limits
Daily limits applied territory-wide or in high-harm communities could reduce availability and minimise racial profiling associated with individualised controls.
8. Display low risk drinking guidelines at all points of sale
Prominent, culturally appropriate messaging about NHMRC low risk drinking guidelines could improve awareness and complement other harm-reduction measures.
9. Harmonise alcohol policy implementation
Aligning PALI and BDR processes could reduce administrative burden, shorten queues and improve public interaction with alcohol controls.
10. Prioritise policy actions that explicitly address the Closing the Gap reforms and imperatives within a culturally responsive, trauma-informed framework.
The importance of addressing social and cultural determinants of alcohol consumption in the NT was consistently emphasised.
Alcohol harms in the Northern Territory are intertwined with inter-generational trauma, socio-economic inequality and structural racism. Policy responses need to be trauma-informed, culturally responsive and locally led approaches, align with the Closing the Gap priority reforms and the Aboriginal Justice Agreement and ensure any future policy change is preceded by consultation, transition planning and clear communication.
Professor Peter Miller
Comment from Donna Achee (CEO of Central Australian Aboriginal Congress)
‘It is important to properly evaluate alcohol policy reforms as we need to know that what we are doing is making a difference. It is clear from this report that we are making a difference in reducing alcohol harms especially the alcohol induced number of deaths across the NT. The report also shows that we need to continue to adapt and modify what we are doing to have maximum effect. Following the period that this report has examined we have seen the introduction of the two take-away alcohol-free days in Alice Springs along with other reductions in trading hours. These measures have been very effective and represent the types of continued alcohol policy adaptions that are needed.’
Further information
For further information or interview requests, please contact Professor Peter Miller on 0429 024 844 or at peter.miller@deakin.edu.au.
A copy of the full report is available at LEARNT PROJECT.
Republished under a Creative Commons 4.0 license. Read the original article here.