AUDIO
 |
Archbishop Peter Jensen's Christmas Message 2011 on the centrality of Jesus to human history
|
So far, the most disappointing aspect of the state election campaign is the lack of serious interest from both sides about improving supply-side measures to control alcohol service and its drunken aftermath.
The NSW Police Association is a voice in the political wilderness in its attempts to focus the major political parties on this issue (see this SMH story). Even the Greens are strangely silent.
Truth is, both parties find taking on the combined weight of the hotel, club and liquor industry too hard.
These behemoths are to state politics what the mining industry is to the Federal sphere: good political connections, well-funded and as fearsome as a stepped-on tiger snake.
Historically, they also donate thousands of dollars to the coffers of both sides.
Yet in the face of evidence that better controls on venues and access to liquor helps curb violence and public drunkenness, the political will is lacking.
Policy failures
The Coalition has proposed ‘drying out centres’, a measure which is worthy of further scrutiny.
Such centres exist in the ACT and Darwin, but they come at a cost to the taxpayer.
On its own, these centres will not stem the problem. Moreover, it pushes management of public drunkenness back onto already-stretched police, and places little responsibility onto liquor outlets.
Unquestionably there is an element of personal responsibility in drinking, and as I have argued before, continuing community debate is required to encourage handling alcohol more wisely.
Yet there is still much that can be done by government to regulate the supply side, as is currently being debated about restricting access to poker machines.
The Newcastle trial of limitations on pub opening hours and alcohol service resulted in a documented drop of 37% of drink-related assaults.
Yet neither side of politics has committed to extending this to parts of Sydney or elsewhere in NSW, despite the success of these measures.
We need to stand with the Police Association, local councils, ambos, hospital medics and families who bear the daily brunt of failed policies on opening hours and the control of anti-social behaviour.
With an election looming, we need to ask our local candidates what they plan to do about this and not just buy the party line.
It's over to you.
Why not just ban street drinking everywhere ? Anyway, surely one has to be desparate to be drinking a bottle or can of grog ( disguised inside a brown paper bag - but fooling no-one ) at 9 o'clock in the morning - yet that is what we often see. Surely it's time to get serious about the over indulgent use ( and abuse ) of alcohol in our society.
And it's also long overdue to ban alcohol advertising from TV and other media - after all, how many years has it been since tobacco ads were banned ? Tobacco advertising has also been banned at all sporting events in Australia since October 1, 2006. For too long, alcohol has also continued to be endorsed ( almost worshipped ) in sport. When will they finally act ? I also wonder what has been happening elsewhere in the world about this. Anyone know ?
One political problem may be that they went too early with their campaign last year.
The mantra of both sides of politics is local solutions, local approaches, rather than a blanket tightening
The counter to that has got to be we already have state wide approaches - the basic bottom line licensing conditions, and we want them tightened up across the board. The room for local approaches is then by special application for a variation from a tighter default.
Yes, we should again write to the candidates for office.
The other issue that the AHA and Clubs NSW have too much sway on is gambling laws. We must be urging our parliamentarians to get behind the Productivity Commission's recommendations for reform to reduce the incidence of problem gambling.
I live in an area where street drinking is banned in the summer. It is overall a good policy, and has helped curb drinking parties in a small park near our home. From where I sit, this policy works. It also helps control drinking on the footpaths in shopping districts.
The question of alcohol advertising is also in the too hard basket for government. Unfortunately, men's sport in Australia relies heavily on alcohol sponsorship and related TV advertising. Better to fight one battle at a time than take the whole lot on at once!