Report supports ban on selling tinnies at Adelaide Oval due to impacts on drink-driving and domestic violence

Allowing the sale of alcohol in cans at Adelaide Oval will result in an increase in anti-social behaviour and domestic violence, a new report on the controversial move claims. Join the conversation.

A report into the controversial move to allow tinnies to be sold at Adelaide Oval predicts it will result in more anti-social behaviour, drink driving and domestic violence.

It has prompted the police union to ask Liquor Licensing Commissioner Dini Soulio to review his decision to vary Adelaide Oval’s liquor licence to allow alcohol in cans to be sold.

The report, prepared by Professor Ann Roche from the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University, makes 10 recommendations concerning the sale of alcohol at Adelaide Oval.

They include that the use of plastic cups be continued as was done previously with “variations according to risk levels in discrete parts’’, that spirits in cans should not be sold, that alcohol in cans should only be sold in the first half of any event and that there be a limit of two cans per customer.

The crowd at an Australia v South Africa rugby match at Adelaide Oval, August 2022. Picture: Emma Brasier

They also include recommendations that enhanced crowd control, monitoring and surveillance strategies are implemented and “more stringent’’ responsible service training be required for those working at Adelaide Oval.

“Greater speed of service will likely increase alcohol consumption among existing drinkers and widen the array of patrons consuming alcohol,’’ the report states.

“Increased consumption will likely lead to increased intoxication among some segments of the population group.

“This, in turn, will likely have knock-on effects in terms of increased anti-social behaviour, drink driving, and increased levels of family and domestic violence.

“The issue of increased levels of family and domestic violence after major sporting events is now well documented in Australia and overseas.’’

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Mark Carroll, President of the Police Association of South Australia.

In July SAPOL and the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority struck a deal to ensure a variation to Adelaide’s Oval’s liquor licence to allow the sale of alcohol in cans occurred.

Senior police initially opposed the variation on public safety grounds, but withdrew their opposition after minor concessions, including that warning signs about the dangers of throwing cans, were agreed.

The police union fears alcohol in cans will be used as missiles by drunk spectators and injure police officers, other fans or players on the field. It attempted to have the variation altered, but failed.

Police Association president Mark Carroll said the report, which it had commissioned, “completely vindicated’’ the union’s stance on the issue.

“It shows there is an intrinsic, undeniable link between the consumption of alcohol at sporting events and family violence,’’ he said.

“This makes the decision by SAPOL, which is a white ribbon ambassador, to agree to vary Adelaide Oval’s liquor licence without conducting any proper research and consultation even more puzzling.’’

Mr Carroll said if the union had been given leave to appeal the variation in the Liquor Licensing Court, Professor Roche would have been called as a witness.

“We believe her evidence would have been given considerable weight. Hopefully Commissioner Soulio will consider her report and impose additional conditions on the licence as his powers under the Act permit him to do so if he considers it in the public interest,’’ he said.

“We will continue to lobby for this decision to be reviewed because as the report definitively shows, this is clearly a public safety issue.’