Brent potter scraps liquor outlets’ opening hour trial as BDR numbers spike

Liquor outlets will go back to their regular trading hours after a raft of alcohol management measures uncovered a ‘better’ alternative.

A trial that saw takeaway liquor outlets open later will come to an end this month after an alternative measure proved to be more successful.

Police and Alcohol Policy Minister Brent Potter said Darwin bottle shops will begin trading from 10am on January 26.

Mr Potter said the trail was part of a raft of alcohol management measure the government introduced in December, the most effective of which was increased police powers to place problem drinkers on the Banned Drinker Register.

“We’ve seen 732 people placed onto the BDR over a five-week period,” he said.

“Last period – being December 2022 to January 2023 – we only had 230 people added.

Mr Potter said the dramatic increase in banned drinkers was “better for our community”.

“It’s better in tackling anti-social behaviour,” he said.

“Every person put on the BDR is referred to a clinician to find them an appropriate (Alcohol and Other Drugs) program.”

Police and Alcohol Policy Minister Brent Potter. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Potter said a legitimate residence clause would replace the reduced opening hours trial, which would require consumers to disclose where they plan to drink takeaway alcohol.

“For example, if you’re a tourist you’ll be staying in a hotel or a caravan park, your driver’s license will clearly articulate you’re not from the Northern Territory, that will suffice,” he said.

“If you’re from outside the Darwin regional area and you have a residence that’s in a protected area … you’ll need to demonstrate where you intend to consume it.”

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said the industry was happy to see the time trial lapse.

“We are supportive of the seven-day BDR as a tool to manage inappropriate public drinking,” he said.

“While supportive, we have concerns about the legitimate residence clause and will continue to work with government from a staff and customer safety perspective.”

NT Police Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said cops would continue advocating for supply control measures as well as demand control measures.

“The Commissioner of Police asked for a suite of measures to be brought into place, we saw the two-hour trial, we thank the government for working with us on that,” he said.