Council moves to solve alcohol issues
THE DISTRICT Council of Ceduna will purchase four swipe ID machines for the town in an effort to combat litter, alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour, improve the safety of intoxicated people near roads and prevent the smuggling of alcohol into dry communities such as Yalata and Oak Valley.
The technology, which will be installed in the three licensed premises in town that sell takeaway alcohol and SAPOL, will cost about $15, 000 per unit.
The licensed premises include the Ceduna Foreshore Hotel, Ceduna Cellars and the Thevenard Hotel.
The system will require everyone who wants to purchase take away alcohol to have their driver’s license or police photo ID swiped.
Their purchase will be recorded and the information will be used to prevent people purchasing alcohol from several different outlets on the same day.
Since Ceduna’s new liquor licensing accord was introduced on November 14, 2011, takeaway sales of fortified wine have been restricted to no more than two litres per person per day.
Takeaway sales of unfortified wine have been restricted to no more than five litres per person per day.
A further requirement of the accord is that retailers register suspicious sales of alcohol to police.
Ceduna Council will pay for the machines upfront and will be reimbursed with funding from the Australian Government’s Indigenous Coordination Centre (ICC).
If it is able to secure further funding, Ceduna Council will install ID machines at Smoky Bay and Wirrulla and possibly the Nullarbor and Nundroo.
At their most recent meeting on January 18, Ceduna Councillors agreed that something urgently needed to be done to combat litter and improve the safety of drinkers and residents as well as Ceduna’s image.
Mayor Allan Suter said that drinkers from locations such as Coober Peedy, Oak Valley, Yalata and Western Australia were causing problems in the western end of Ceduna.
Councillors identified the beach and highway near the Highway One roadhouse as a particular area for concern, with intoxicated people regularly passed out on the beach and attempting to cross the road while drunk.
A delegation of Councillors and local business people plan to visit Adelaide to discuss the issue with the South Australian Government’s Minster for Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Paul Caica.
