Home violence plan targets alcohol
Drunken offenders would have to undergo daily breath tests or wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet while on probation under a plan to help eradicate family violence.
Australian of the Year and domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty has endorsed the radical plan as she calls on governments to curb the availability of alcohol to reduce booze-fuelled rages
In Canberra today, Ms Batty will release the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education’s framework to prevent drink-related family violence.
Among its recommendations are a mandated 3am closing for pubs and clubs, limiting bottleshops to open from 10am and 10pm, buying back liquor licences in areas assessed as saturated with outlets and tobacco-style bans on alcohol advertising and sponsorships.
The foundation also wants to tax liquor by volume of alcohol and impose a levy on alcoholic products to cover governments’ costs of responding to family violence and prevention programs.
It urges governments to adopt the US State of South Dakota’s 24/7 Sobriety Program to target offenders. Under it people arrested or convicted of alcohol-related offences must have two breath tests a day or wear a monitoring bracelet with modest penalties attached.
Initially aimed at drink-drivers, it led to a 9 per cent fall in assaults when extended to family violence and other alcohol-related crimes.
Ms Batty said political leaders needed to move from discussing family violence to taking determined and informed action.
“There can never be an acceptable level of family violence,” she said.
