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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-04-30 Daily Xml
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NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:57): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Consumer Affairs a question about non-alcoholic beverages in licensed venues.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: In November 2008, the government issued two separate media releases in relation to the dangers of alcohol consumption, particularly in relation to excessive alcohol consumption during 'schoolies' week', and issuing a warning to moderate drinkers who might indulge themselves during the festive season. In addition to these warnings of alcohol abuse, the federal government has launched a campaign aimed at young adults entitled 'Don't turn a night into a nightmare', which aims to educate young adults about the dangers of binge drinking and excessive alcohol consumption.

With these warning messages against alcohol, it would be logical for the government to encourage licensed premises to promote designated driver schemes. These schemes usually entitle a designated driver to free or discounted soft drinks to encourage those who wish to socialise responsibly. We often see happy hour specials in pubs and clubs where patrons are able to purchase an alcoholic drink—usually beer, wine or champagne—for as little as $2. However, we seldom see soft drinks or any other non-alcoholic beverages included in these promotions.

I was recently contacted by a constituent who was appalled to pay $5 for a soft drink when, in the same establishment, four standard drinks could be purchased for $10. In this circumstance the cost of a non-alcoholic beverage was twice that of an alcoholic drink. I understand that most licensed premises provide free tap water to patrons on request. However, it is not mandatory under the Liquor Licensing Act. This clearly does not promote or encourage those who are trying to do the safe and responsible thing on a night out. Given the recent community attention on binge drinking, my questions to the minister are:

1. What is the government doing to promote and encourage designated drivers?

2. Does the minister believe it is fair that those choosing not to consume alcohol are punished by exorbitant prices on drinks?

3. Is the government working or planning to work with the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner to address binge drinking?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:59): The honourable member has raised a number of very important policy issues around the matter of the responsible drinking of alcohol on licensed premises, and there are a number of things that this state government has done in relation to that. I was interested to hear him talk about the designated driver scheme that is being tested at the hotel. I was not aware of a scheme of that nature. I know of designated driver schemes that we promote through our road safety campaigns. I also know, as the former minister for substance abuse, that we looked at a number of responsible drinking schemes. They included promoting things such as when groups of young people went out for a night on the town they ensured that they had a designated driver for the night. I think there were a number of television advertisements promoting that at some time, but I do not have the dates when that occurred.

When I visited Scotland I was shocked to drive past a liquor store where a bottle of wine was cheaper than a bottle of water, and I think that cost incentives and price points are a really important issue for us to look at. I am happy to look further into this and obtain further information from the honourable member in terms of the designated driver schemes that he is proposing. I think that anything that promotes the safety of young people being able to travel home safely after a night out is a really positive thing. I am not sure what some of the implications of that would be, in terms of staffing and cost, and what effect it might have on a licensee. However, I am keen to look into that and to investigate it further.

In terms of the pricing of drinks, the honourable member would know that we have a competition policy and legislation that is very strict about doing anything to interfere with free and open competition. So, we have to work within those parameters. The open market and open trading would say that, irrespective of where they are, a retailer has the right to set their prices at whatever they deem as a fair and reasonable price level. There is very little that we can do about that, given the ACCC and associated legislation. However, this government is very keen to promote the availability of free water at a wide range of events, particularly where alcohol is served.

In terms of binge drinking, in March 2009 the National Health and Medical Research Council released Australian guidelines to reduce health risks as a result of drinking alcohol. Those guidelines make a number of recommendations, including certain standards of drink that the council believes reduces the risks associated with drinking.

Responsible consumption of alcohol initiatives developed and promoted by the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner include the Next Drink initiative, a campaign to remind drinkers that every extra drink increases their risk. We also have a Safe Partying initiative, which is information provided to assist parents, families and communities to develop harm minimisation strategies that address alcohol consumption at parties or special events. That has been developed collaboratively with agencies such as SAPOL, DECS and DASSA.

Manufacturers such as Coopers and retailers such as Woolworths have been encouraged to include a responsible consumption message in their advertising and on liquor packaging. There is also a wallet card providing information about alcohol and the law and promoting the responsible service of alcohol for young people, the promotion of the responsible consumption of alcohol messages at festival events and Teenage Parties and Alcohol, which is a parent's guide brochure featuring party tips and outlining legal responsibilities, which is widely circulated to schools, council offices and police stations.

The Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner is also involved in developing the South Australian Alcohol Action Plan, in conjunction with SAPOL, DASSA and representatives from a number of government agencies. The priorities of that plan reflect and are consistent with the National Alcohol Strategy, which includes reducing the incidence of intoxication amongst drinkers; enhancing public safety and amenity at times and places where alcohol is consumed; improving health outcomes among individuals and communities affected by alcohol consumption; and facilitating safer and healthier drinking cultures by developing community understanding about the properties of alcohol and through regulation of its availability. So, they are some of the things that we have participated in and contributed to in terms of helping to reduce the harmful effects of binge drinking.

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