Page 1300 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 April 1994

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PEOPLE WHO ARE INTOXICATED, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BEING HELD IN POLICE CELLS.

THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOBERING UP PLACE AND HAS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN A GREAT DEAL OF CONSULTATION ON THIS ISSUE.

AS A RESULT, A.C.T. HEALTH HAS COMMITTED FUNDING TO RESEARCH AND ESTABLISH SOBERING UP PLACES IN THE A.C.T. IN 1994 AND HAS CALLED FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS TO OPERATE THESE SOBERING UP PLACES.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNALLED ITS INTENTION TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF SOBERING UP PLACES WITHIN THE A.C.T..

FINALLY, THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO THE LIQUOR ACT.

THE FIRST OF THESE CHANGES WAS TO RESTRICT THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF LICENSED PREMISES IN THE A.C.T.

THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT AGREED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS IT IS CONSIDERED THAT LIMITING THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF LICENSED PREMISES WOULD MERELY TRANSFER PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL USE TO ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE, RATHER THAN REDUCE OR PREVENT THEM.

THE SECOND LEGAL STRATEGY SUGGESTED BY THE COMMITTEE IS TO ALLOW ONLY THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN WHO ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO DRINK ALCOHOL WITH A MEAL.

THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION AS IT WOULD BE AN ONEROUS TASK FOR LICENSEES TO DECIDE WHETHER THE ADULT ACCOMPANYING A CHILD IS IN FACT THE CHILDS PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

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