‘Look to replicate’: Controversial booze rules considered for Broome

Australia’s harshest liquor restrictions could be brought into one of the nations’s leading tourist destinations.

Controversial liquor restrictions dubbed the harshest in the nation could be introduced at a tourist hotspot.

Western Australia premier Roger Cook has hinted at supporting stricter rules for Broome and nearby Derby as the state’s Director of Liquor Licensing considers the move.

Broome, a premier tropical Australian tourism destination, has reportedly seen its crime rate triple over the past eight years.

The Kimberly region is already subject to strict limits on takeaway alcohol sales.

However, the state may now look to Carnarvon, almost 1500km south, for further inspiration to curb anti-social behaviour.

Mr Cook named Carnarvon, which began its restrictions in early May, while praising the merits of liquor restrictions in reducing the crime rate.

Western Australia is considering implementing stricter liquor restrictions in Broome and Derby.

The Kimberly region already has strict limits on takeaway alcohol sales. Picture: Victoria Nielsen/news.com.au

“If people are concerned about the level of anti-social behaviour in Broome, and they think that it’s alcohol linked, well, obviously, that then leads you to the conclusion that you should place some further restrictions on the sale of alcohol,” Mr Cook said on Monday.

“We have significantly reduced the anti-social behaviour in Carnarvon.

“Things have settled down significantly … the community is much safer, there’s less violence, there’s less crime, there’s less presentations to local hospital.

“So that’s obviously been a success. We should look to replicate that success in other parts of Western Australia.”

The Premier of Western Australia has praised the merits of liquor restrictions in fighting anti-social behaviour. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

The state may look to Carnarvon for further inspiration to curb anti-social behaviour. Picture: Jon Gellweiler/news.com.au

In Carnarvon, locals are limited to daily purchases of 1.25 litres (a slab of cans) of beer, cider or pre-mixed spirits with an alcohol percentage of less than 6 per cent, or 3.75 litres if over that amount.

Customers can also buy just 1.5 litres of wine, 1 litre of spirits and 1 litre of fortified wine.

The measures also ban the sale of any takeaway alcohol on Sunday or Monday and limit trade to between 12pm and 7pm on any other day.

The restrictions in Carnarvon have been met with mixed feelings by those subject to them, with some fearing that the rules would see tourists bypass the town. Picture: Jon Gellweiler/news.com.au

Wine by bottle or cask must be sold for at least $15, and wherever a product is available in cans, it shouldn’t be sold in glass.

A Banned Drinkers Register, already used in parts of the Pilbara, Kimberley, and the Goldfields, was also expanded to include Carnarvon and nearby Gascoyne Junction.

The register requires bottle shop staff to check the identification of every customer against the register of banned drinkers with a scanner at the point of sale.

A news.com.au trip to Carnarvon in June found the restrictions were met with mixed feelings by those subject to them.

Industry and local First Nations leaders chalked up any perceived improvement in anti-social behaviour to more than simply the restrictions.

They cited community patrols and a more significant police presence among the contributing factors.

They also feared the rules would see tourists bypass the town.

Originally published as ‘Look to replicate’: Controversial booze rules considered for Broome