ALCOHOL

CDP is concerned that the easier availability of alcohol is having a negative impact on the health of the general population.

A report entitled “Impact of alcohol on the population of Western Australia” published by Epidemiology Branch, Department of Health WA, January 2008 reveals that:

• The costs of alcohol-related hospitalisations have increased significantly even after being adjusted for inflation;
• There is an increasing trend per capita of alcohol consumption in WA;
• The number of alcohol-related hospital admissions for chronic diseases is increasing.

Research conducted by the National Drug Research Institute has also demonstrated that later trading hours for licensed hotels are associated with a higher number of impaired driver road crashes.

Alcohol is a gateway drug. When people delay the start of alcohol use to at least 21 they rarely develop dependency or addiction to alcohol or any other drug.

In view of the above, CDP will work to:

· discourage the excessive consumption of alcohol;

· achieve a reduction of alcohol-related domestic violence, deaths, road accidents and crimes;

· prevent alcohol-related illnesses (such as cirrhosis of the liver);

· reduce the harmful impact of alcohol in the home and in workplaces and industry generally.

CDP will introduce the Alcoholic Beverages Advertising Prohibition Bill in WA as it has in NSW.

Under the Bill, the commercial advertising of alcoholic beverages will be prohibited in all media, public advertisements or on unsolicited things distributed to the public and by means of articles (such as newspapers or books) sold, hired or supplied.

CDP will introduce legislation to allow a particular residential zone to be alcohol-free for a limited period of time if the local residents so desire. Declaration of an alcohol free zone will be made by the Minister upon receipt of a petition received by at least 10% of the enfranchised residents on the grounds that there is widespread alcohol abuse in the area at particular times (eg. end of the school year celebrations). A person buying, selling, delivering or publicly consuming any quantity of alcohol within a designated alcohol free zone during the period of the declaration will commit an offence. Police will be authorised to seize any alcoholic beverage bought, sold, delivered or consumed.

CDP will work to ensure that the ban on the supply of alcohol to Aboriginal communities is applied in all communities suffering from alcohol abuse and that appropriate measures are implemented to achieve detoxification and rehabilitation of the individuals concerned.

CDP will work to obtain an increase and better resourcing of alcohol detoxification centres throughout the metropolitan area and regional centres.

CDP will work to have funding provided to help parents, schools and communities prepare for a genuine drug and alcohol free rite of passage

CDP will introduce legislation to ensure that all packaged liquor must contain a health warning about the dangers of drinking when pregnant. The warning will appear in capital letters and be clearly readable.

Experience in the US has demonstrated that delaying the age at which alcohol starts being consumed is beneficial to society. The US National Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the minimum age drinking laws in the US has reduced traffic fatalities in 18 to 20 year olds by 13%. Consequently, CDP will introduce legislation to increase the drinking age to 21 in WA as it has already done so in NSW.

CDP will introduce an amendment to the Liquor Act to restrict extended trading hours by hotels and liquor stores.