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COAG Fails To Tackle Binge Drinking And The Pokies Plague

Press Releases March 27 2008

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The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has gone soft on binge drinking and the pokies plague, deferring these issues for further discussion.

“The COAG meeting was a wasted opportunity to take strong and decisive action to combat binge drinking and the pokies plague,” Family First leader Steve Fielding said. “COAG has dropped the ball.  Family First has plans to deal with both problems.
“Family First’s Alcohol Toll Reduction Bill 2007 requires health information labels on all alcohol products. It would ensure all alcohol advertising is pre-approved by a government body, that television alcohol advertising runs after 9pm and that ads should not link drinking to personal, business, social, sporting, sexual or other success.
“Family First’s Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008 will introduce a new federal tax on poker machines in pubs and clubs to push pokies out of these community venues and restrict them casinos and racetracks, which are dedicated gambling venues.”
The statistics on Australia’s alcohol toll are horrifying:
• Alcohol costs the Australian community $15.3 billion a year;
• 450,000 children under 12 are at risk of being exposed to binge drinking in their home by a parent or adult, according to the Australian National Council on Drugs;
• 35 per cent of Australians drink at levels that risk short-term harm and 10 per cent at levels that risk long-term harm, according to the Institute of Health and Welfare.
The statistics on poker machines also demand action:
• About 293,000 people have a significant gambling problem in Australia and about 85% of problem gamblers use poker machines;
• On average around seven other people are affected by a severe problem gambler’s behaviour. That’s around 2 million Australians;
• More than 50% of regular poker machine users are problem gamblers or at risk of becoming problem gamblers.
“COAG decided to delay further discussion of binge drinking to its December meeting and to ask Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to consider mandatory health warnings on packaged alcohol,” Senator Fielding said.  “FSANZ has been considering this issue since last year, so the request makes little difference.
“COAG said even less about poker machines, committing only to discuss the issue. Clearly state governments remain addicted to poker machine revenue and do not want change.”