Port Augusta alcohol restrictions extended to Whyalla

Alcohol restrictions in Port Augusta will be expanded to Whyalla following concerns people were travelling to the neighbouring town to stock up on grog.

Alcohol restrictions in Port Augusta will be expanded to Whyalla following concerns people were visiting the neighbouring town to buy large quantities of grog.

Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Dini Soulio said bottle shop staff in Whyalla agreed to voluntarily limit purchases from Monday.

“We’ve heard reports from local liquor store owners who’ve seen customers converge on shops to effectively buy up the shop’s entire stock of cask wine or, alternatively, keep buying casks until their payments are declined,” Mr Soulio said.

“It’s very concerning behaviour, and I’m pleased to see local businesses agreeing to act responsibly and voluntarily impose these restrictions.”

The liquor restrictions will be the same as those that will become permanent in Port Augusta from November 1, following a trial.

Under the restrictions, there are daily limits per person of one two-litre cask, one bottle of fortified wine and up to two bottles of spirits.

In Port Augusta, bottle shops will not be allowed to open before 11am.

Mr Soulio said the extension of restrictions in Port Augusta was based on discussions with police, health services and Aboriginal representatives.

“Based on the review, there can be no doubt the sale and consumption of alcohol in Port Augusta results in significant anti-social behaviour, harm to the community, and negative health impacts,” he said.

“These benefits outweigh the minor inconvenience to customers and tourists.”

SA Consumer Affairs Commissioner Dini Soulio

Customers have been buying up quantities of cask wine in Whyalla.

In February, Mr Soulio imposed a two-week trial of alcohol restrictions after SA Police reported an increase in alcohol-related offences and anti-social behaviour in the town.

SA Police noted from December to February problems increased due to an influx of Aboriginal visitors from the NT, APY and Maralinga Lands.

An earlier review of the trial saw it extended multiple times but with slight amendments to the restrictions, including alcohol purchases per transaction being changed to per person per day.

It followed some customers visiting alcohol outlets during the February trial up to 31 times over 13 days, including multiple times a day.

Whyalla and Port Augusta customers will also have to present ID for staff to use an ID Scan SA app to determine if the person’s daily transactions of restricted items has been reached.

Mr Soulio’s Port Augusta liquor restriction announcement included the release of a 13-page report to support the decision.

Port Augusta’s Sobering Up Unit reported admissions fell from 109 in January to 88 in February, while the number of clients with a blood-alcohol level of greater than 0.25 also fell from 28 in January to just four in February.

SA Police reported a decline in assaults during the trial where one or both parties were affected by alcohol, but domestic abuse reports did not change.

South Australian Ambulance Service data showed alcohol-related cases reduced by 50 per cent in February, compared to the same time the previous year, while assault-related cases reduced by 33 per cent over the same period.