WA premier Mark McGowan says alcohol restrictions imposed in Carnarvon are necessary — and are tougher than similar measures put in place in Alice Springs.
The conditions imposed by the state's director of liquor licensing, Lanie Chopping, came into effect on Thursday and limit the amount of alcohol that can be purchased by a customer in one day.
Mr McGowan described it as a "nation-leading effort" to deal with alcohol-related harm and violence.
"We are intervening to save lives … to save disruption and to prevent crime, and to ensure that children are kept safer in Carnarvon — and I make no apologies for that," he said.
The restrictions limit a customers to 11.25 litres of beer, cider or pre-mixed spirits with an alcohol percentage of less than 6 per cent, or 3.75L when it exceeds that amount.
Customers are also limited to 1.5 litres of wine, 1 litre of spirits and 1 litre of fortified wine.
The measures also ban the sale of takeaway alcohol on Sunday or Monday, and only between 12pm and 7pm on the other days.
"It's tougher than what's been put in place in Alice Springs and it's more well thought through in my view, and I'd urge other states around Australia to have a look at it," Mr McGowan said.
"I congratulate the director of liquor licensing, and I'd urge the licensees there to pull back and actually pull their heads in and do the right thing.
"If the industry there, the retailers and the pubs, want to take legal action we'll oppose them for all we're worth."
Liquor outlets in the town were given until April 5 to make submissions about the restrictions.
A banned-drinkers register is also being expanded to include Carnarvon, but is yet to come into effect.
Opposition racing and gaming spokesperson Peter Rundle said the introduction of the liquor restrictions was welcomed, but it needed to be accompanied with additional support services in the town.
"We've got a premier here with probably another $4 billion surplus, he's had a $6 billion surplus last year," Mr Rundle said.
"This is the premier's opportunity to put in place those wraparound services to actually complement the liquor restrictions."
Mr Rundle said he was surprised the restrictions had begun, given the infrastructure for the banned-drinkers register was not ready.
Test case
Alcohol consumption in Carnarvon per adult is 2.4 times the state average and about 85 per cent of wholesale liquor is sold at takeaway stores.
Mr McGowan said Carnarvon was chosen because there had never been enforced liquor restrictions in the town and the impact would be monitored to see if these restrictions could be rolled out to other communities facing similar problems.
In a statement Shire of Carnarvon president Eddie Smith emphasised that the liquor restrictions were different to what had previously been imposed by retailers on weekends and exemptions were available for bulk purchases where needed.
“We hope that the majority of our responsible residents and visitors can continue to make their regular purchases while also seeing a reduction in the alcohol-related incidents of domestic violence and abuse in the community,” he said.
Concerns over trading hours reduction
Local bottle shop owner Nathan Condo said he had been building the business for seven years and the reduction in trading hours was the main issue.
"It's going to mean job cuts," he said.
"The rest of the stuff I can figure out, but I'm concerned about what it will mean for my staff."
Mr Condo said there was also a lack of information provided before the restrictions were introduced.
A spokesperson for Endeavour Group said BWS would work to implement the measures.
"In addition, BWS fully supports the extension of the trial of the banned drinkers register to Carnarvon and will take all necessary steps, including further training of team members, to ensure it complies with it in its strengthened format," the spokesperson said.
