New booze laws to be trialled in Whyalla to combat alcohol-fuelled violence

Whyalla is responding to mounting community concerns about alcohol-fuelled behaviour, with new measures being brought in from Monday.

Tough new alcohol restrictions are set to be trialled in Whyalla this month, as community concerns continue to grow over “alcohol-fuelled” anti-social behaviour in the area.

The trial period – which will begin on April 14 – will include restrictions on the sale of four litre casks, five litre casks and all fortified wine and port casks for a total of three months.

Whyalla Mayor Phill Stone said he had been petitioning for restrictions for some time.

“There have been mounting community concerns regarding increasing alcohol-fuelled, anti-social behaviour, which a number of organisations and agencies – including council, SA Police and the State Government – have been seeking to address,” Mr Stone told The Advertiser.

“This current initiative has been identified by the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner as a deterrent to excessive alcohol consumption and is being supported by local liquor outlets.”

Mayor of Whyalla, Phill Stone at the Whyalla City Council. Picture: Ben Clark

Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Brett Humphrey to trial tough alcohol restrictions in Whyalla. Picture: Keryn Stevens.

Liquor and Gambling commissioner Brett Humphrey said the effectiveness of these restrictions would be based on data from licensees and authorities over the coming months.

He said this would also determine their next steps.

“Trialling these changes for three months, will help us get an indication of whether limiting the sale of cask wine has an impact on the issues confronting Whyalla,” Mr Humphrey said.

“Every community is different, and measures that work in some regions don’t necessarily work well in others.”

Meanwhile, a South Australia Police spokesperson said they intended to continue collaborating with stakeholders to mitigate the impact of excessive alcohol consumption.

It comes after The Advertiser previously revealed groups of Indigenous people from towns with harsher alcohol restrictions travel to Whyalla to purchase booze.

As a result Whyalla locals have reportedly taken concerns into their own hands and formed a vigilante-style group to patrol the streets.