The Australian Hotels Association (WA) has welcomed the passage of legislation that will deliver significant improvements to WA’s Banned Drinkers Register (BDR).
AHA(WA) CEO Bradley Woods said the Liquor Control Amendment (Banned Drinkers Register) Bill 2023 responded to industry feedback, with a range of improvements to make the BDR more effective at addressing alcohol-related harm.
“The passage of this legislation will ensure the BDR policy is far more effective,” Mr Woods said.
“The AHA has supported the BDR for almost two decades and those licensees tasked with implementing it each day will warmly welcome improvements that will enhance it.”
“These legislated improvements will see more known problem drinkers placed on the register, preventing them from accessing alcohol and inflicting harm on themselves, their family members and their community.”
“Under the changes, WA Police can issue Banned Drinker Orders to individuals for alcohol-related offences, and importantly, judges will have the power to place people on the register. These enhancements remove restrictions that have prevented Police and others from placing recidivist offenders and known problem drinkers on the BDR.”
“Licensees tasked with implementing the BDR scan each ID to check customers are not on the register and they strongly support the BDR but have said there was a clear need to see more known problem drinkers placed on the register.”
“Securing these latest improvements to enhance the effectiveness of the BDR is a far better policy approach than imposing blanket community-wide alcohol restrictions on all law-abiding citizens.”
“The AHA commends the work of the WA Government, in particular Racing and Gaming Minister Reece Whitby MLA, and thanks the Department of Racing and Gaming, for their work in securing these important enhancements.”
