Adelaide city booze bans extended for six weeks as police set to extend patrols to combat rising CBD ‘harm’ behaviour

The state’s liquor watchdog has ordered the strict citywide grog crackdown be extended in attempt to curb booze-fuelled violence blighting Adelaide. Is this the answer? Vote in our poll.

Police say there will be increased presence of officers during a six-week extention of the ban. Picture: Morgan Sette

The citywide bans on takeaway alcohol sales have been extended as authorities attempt to curb booze-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour blighting Adelaide’s most popular areas.

The state’s liquor watchdog has ordered the strict month-long grog crackdown on bottle shops and other licensed venues be extended for another six weeks.

SA Police will also increase officer patrols in the CBD.

A special government safety task-force, which endorsed the extension, this week heard wild behaviour and “excessive” public alcohol use had been slashed but issues were ongoing.

Authorities are particularly concerned on solving rising “harm” and anti-social problems at “hotspot” locations around the western part of North Tce, which includes the Convention Centre, railway station and Parliament House.

Reported problems involve indigenous groups, record levels of homeless people suffering through the cost of living crisis, significant mental health issues and drunken revellers.

The Sunday Mail reported the restrictions, which are similar to those imposed in Port Augusta and Whyalla, limited the sale of various takeaway liquor.

Police on Hindley Street on a Friday night in Adelaide. picture: Morgan Sette

This include no sales of four and five litre casks of wine as well as bans on purchasing of fortified wine casks such as port, sherry, or brandy

Restrictions of sales were also placed on either one two-litre cask, two 700ml bottles of spirits or a one-litre bottle of spirits per person, each day.

Members of the State Government’s Safety and Wellbeing Taskforce – including the Human Services department, Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Dini Soulio, senior Police and SA Health bosses – reviewed the trial on Tuesday.

Industry leaders, licenced venue owners and Adelaide City Council chiefs were also involved in talks.

The task-force will assess data around the restrictions in mid-June while reviewing what long-term action may be required through other government agencies.

Scenes along North Terrace on a Friday night in Adelaide. Picture: Morgan Sette

In response to inquiries, Mr Soulio, who quietly introduced the restrictions on Good Friday with the taskforce’s blessing, said the trial’s early results had showed “an improvement”.

“But more time is needed to assess the impact of the restrictions, and continue with other supporting measures to address harm and anti-social behaviour,” he said.

“Throughout these discussions, I’ve been genuinely pleased to see a commitment from CBD licensees to work with the government agencies to address the issues that collectively they’ve identified.”

An SA Police spokesman said officers will “support initiatives to reduce public intoxication and anti-social behaviour”.

“This will include providing a greater police presence in the CBD,” he said.

Australian Hotels Association, deputy chief executive, Anna Moeller, said industry supported the extension.

“Our firm view is that restrictions alone will not solve the problem,” she said.

“There’s no doubt that the increased police presence and support during the period of (the AFL’s) Gather Round had a noticeable improvement.”

A spokeswoman for DHS, which heads up the task-force, said officials were working with the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and other providers, to address alcohol-related harm.

other initiatives included increasing CBD outreach responses”, ensuring cultural workers work with troubled groups, boostingmobile patrol response times and expanding city transport.

The government failed to publicly announce that it had imposed the legal restrictions on the amount and type of alcohol that can be bought in the CBD.