Australian Insitute of Criminology
Abstract
Local liquor accords with the alcoholic beverage industry in Australia have had a positive impact on controlling alcohol-related disorder and violence in public places. This chapter identifies the stakeholders and examines the components of such accords, and describes the process of development and implementation for local areas. The three main stakeholders are law enforcement, local government, and the liquor industry. Community residents and other local businesses can also play a role. Liquor industry accords are primarily intended to promote safety in the community by protecting against harm resulting from excessive alcohol consumption. The development process typically may be initiated by police or licensing authorities meeting with licensees and local government representatives to establish a cooperative partnership. Attendees would be made aware of current policing problems in the jurisdiction, usually focusing on issues such as intoxication, underage drinking, and violence on licensed drinking premises. Authorities would stress the legal and social responsibilities of licensees and the benefits of responsible serving of alcohol. The roles of local government and other statutory bodies also would be outlined, and the views of licensees presented. From these discussions an accord may be tailored to specific local needs and statements of commitment generated. Sample commitment statements are presented for each of the stakeholders, and potential barriers to effective implementation are discussed. 6 Ref.
