NT government to announce extension to alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs

The strict restrictions for buying takeaway alcohol in Alice Springs will be extended.

The Northern Territory Government will extend takeaway alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs indefinitely.

Sky News understands Chief Minister Natasha Fyles will make the announcement on Thursday, extending strict restrictions that see a total ban on takeaway alcohol sales on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Takeaway sales are also restricted to between 3pm and 7pm from Wednesday to Friday, 11am and 8pm on Saturday and noon until 9pm on Sundays.

The restrictions were introduced after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Alice Springs in January following dramatic rises in alcohol-fuelled crime and domestic violence.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles announces new alcohol restrictions for Alice Springs. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

They were at first introduced for three months, then extended for another three months in April.

But government and industry sources have confirmed Ms Fyles will extend the bans indefinitely.

Some industry sources who spoke to Sky News on the condition of anonymity said they were disappointed the restrictions were being extended and fear it could kill the town’s already-struggling tourism industry.

While crime rates and alcohol-related domestic violence and emergency department presentations have fallen significantly since January, they say this has been due to the reimposition of total alcohol bans in the town’s Aboriginal town camps, rather than the takeaway liquor restrictions.