The Banned Drinkers Register (BDR) will be made permanent under liquor law reforms that have been introduced into the WA Parliament, after it was found to have had a positive impact in the areas where it is currently being trialled.
Two independent evaluations found widespread community and stakeholder support for the BDR, including from the WA Police Force, local governments, health service providers, and the liquor and hospitality industries.
The BDR is an important part of the WA Government’s multifaceted approach to combat alcohol-related health issues, anti-social behaviour and family and domestic violence.
It is built on locally driven initiatives that aim to reduce alcohol harm in the Banned Drinker Areas (BDAs) of the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields regions and the towns of Carnarvon and Gascoyne Junction.
Reforms introduced by the WA Government in December 2023 made participation in the BDR compulsory in those regional areas.
A Banned Drinker Order (BDO) can be issued by police officers for any alcohol-related offence. Medical practitioners and social workers can also apply to the Director of Liquor Licensing for a BDO for their patient or client. Importantly, individuals are empowered to apply for a self-imposed BDO to help them tackle their alcohol use.
In support of the BDR, banned drinkers are offered information about alcohol and drug treatment services available in their area.
One of the recent evaluations of the BDR, and other alcohol harm minimisation tools in the BDAs, found that 80 per cent of stakeholders consulted supported the BDR being made a permanent fixture. The evaluation also flagged stakeholder feedback about some potential administrative improvements which are currently being considered.
Removing the sunset clause in the BDR laws to make it permanent is part of the package of liquor law reforms now before the WA Parliament.
Other proposed changes include removing the requirement to serve alcohol only with a meal on Good Friday and Christmas Day and enabling longer trading hours for those public holidays as well as Anzac Day.
The new laws will also support small businesses by raising the maximum patron capacity for small bars and cut red tape by removing the need for licensees to renew extended trading permits.
Penalties for breaching WA’s liquor laws will increase to strengthen their deterrent value. The penalty for sly grogging will be significantly increased – up to $50,000 (from $20,000) for selling liquor without a licence and up to $40,000 (from $10,000) for carrying liquor in excess quantities.
The reforms are aimed at modernising and simplifying liquor licensing laws to make it easier and more cost-effective for liquor, hospitality, and tourism industry participants to open and operate their businesses to boost the economy.
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