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A significant change is sweeping through pubs in Alice Springs today, as the Northern Territory Liquor Commission rolls out stringent new regulations aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm during the week.
These new rules, impacting over 20 pubs and bars in the area, dictate that full-strength alcohol can only be served between 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Furthermore, patrons must order this alcohol alongside a “full meal.”
This move represents an intensified effort by the commission to address social issues plaguing Central Australia. It follows the earlier implementation of takeaway-free Mondays, which began in early 2023.
Despite the intentions behind these measures, the hospitality industry is voicing its concerns, describing the restrictions as “unprecedented.” Cathy Simmonds, CEO of Hospitality NT, expressed her views to the ABC, stating, “It is one thing to vary the conditions for one licence.”
“It is one thing to vary the conditions for one licence,” Cathy Simmonds, CEO of Hospitality NT, told the ABC.
“It is really unprecedented for the commission to add conditions for 20 in one go.”
Simmonds also warned of the practical toll on workers, noting that the “inconsistency of the rules day to day” would require massive staff retraining.
She argued that alcohol sales have been trending downward since 2018 and that “most tourists and most Territorians drink responsibly.”
Beyond the meal requirements, the commission has recommended that several prominent venues – including the Todd Tavern, The Rock Bar, Bojangles, and The Uncles – implement on-site ID systems.
These systems would allow staff to identify patrons under banning orders, though the rollout depends on the NT Government updating privacy and data-sharing legislation.
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