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Councils revolt over proposed booze bans

Councils revolt over proposed booze bans

Opposition is growing among Mid West shires to proposals which would restrict the sale of alcohol around the region.

The restrictions would apply to Meekatharra, Cue, Mount Magnet, Sandstone and Yalgoo and would be the same as those already applying in Wiluna.

The Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor has written to the region’s shires regarding incidents of harm and disorder it says are related to alcohol abuse.

Among other things, the restrictions would prohibit the sale of takeaway alcohol on Thursdays to residents within town boundaries, limit Sunday sales to low to mid-strength beer and restrict the sale of takeaway alcohol between 3pm and 6pm on other days.

Already, Mount Magnet shire council has rejected the proposal “in its entirety”.

An officer’s report to this month’s Murchison shire council meeting advised that the region’s chief executive officers had discussed the proposal and none supported it.

“The proposed restrictions could cause serious damage to the hotels and businesses within the shires,” the report said.

“The restrictions have been based on the current restrictions in place in Wiluna which have not been effective in solving the problems.”

The report said the restrictions could lead to people relocating to nearby towns with lesser restrictions, purchasing liquor supplies out of town directly or through the internet, and undertaking “sly grogging”.

Previously, Sandstone shire also proposed to work with neighbouring councils to make a joint submission on the proposed restrictions.

Meekatharra shire called for clarifications and further information on the proposals, and engaged a Curtin University senior lecturer to review and report on all the statistics provided by police in support of the proposals.

And Cue advised the Director of Liquor Licensing it was “totally and unambiguously opposed” to imposition of liquor restrictions.