Tom Minear and James Campbell, Herald Sun – December 19, 2017
DRINKERS would face significant price increases for beer and wine under a proposal to cut Australians’ alcohol consumption.
Under the draft plan, released by federal and state ministers, the cost of all alcoholic drinks would not be allowed to fall below a set level.
The draft national alcohol strategy, quietly released last month, also calls for tough restrictions on alcohol advertising during sport, and laws to stop bottle shops providing two-for-one offers and bulk-buy booze discounts.
Other proposals include:
NEW restrictions on the serving of drinks after a certain time, and plastic glassware to be used in “high-risk venues”;
MANDATORY sobriety conditions on repeat offenders, and linked ID scanners to prevent entry to venues;
UNDERCOVER checks to ensure bottle shops and venues do not serve those under age;
ASKING alcohol companies to put “readable, impactful health-related warning labels” on their products. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt chaired last month’s ministerial forum which agreed to release the draft strategy for a final round of feedback, after three years of consultation, with the aim of finalising it by March.