Unity needed on booze issue

TERRITORIANS love two things above all others — fishing and enjoying a tinnie or three

TERRITORIANS love two things above all others — fishing and enjoying a tinnie or three.

The Government has taken a cautious approach by pushing ahead with its plan to bring in drink driving laws on the water. On the surface, it seems sensible enough. Safety on the water is extremely important. But there are clear logistical problems with enacting a blood alcohol limit for boaties, not least the cost of enforcing it.

For fishos such as Jimmy Henderson, the restriction won’t stop them from drinking, but it will push them further away from Darwin and from help should things go wrong.

The move will likely be deeply unpopular and the Government faces a difficult task in convincing a fishing-mad population it’s a worthwhile idea.

But they’ve backed away from the fight they would have faced should they have supported the plan to enact a $1.50 floor price per standard drink.

A $1.50 floor price would have pushed up the cost of beers on sale. By choosing a $1.30 price instead, the Government has sidestepped that problem. The majority of people won’t see much of an impact. Only those with the least money to spend will be affected.

Although the floor price has been watered down, the measure has still been welcomed as “world leading” by advocates who say it will lead to an immediate reduction in consumption and harm.

Recent events, including the shocking alleged rape of a little girl in Tennant Creek, have led to some deep soul-searching by the Territory. It’s clear we have a problem with alcohol.

It’s not a problem that affects a single part of the population – it’s a community-wide issue and one that will require an effort by the entire community to solve.