Not yet registered?Sign upLogin

Family First Welcomes Police Crackdown On Booze Culture

Press Releases March 03 2009

» Download press release

Newly appointed Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland was 100% right when he said that public drunkenness should be reviled as much as drink driving, Family First Leader Senator Steve Fielding said today.

Senator Fielding said he welcomed Chief Commissioner Overlander’s plans for a major crackdown on booze-fuelled violence.

“Chief Commissioner Overland’s comments echo my own concerns about the abuse of alcohol and its ramifications for society.

“We need to change the mindset in our culture that says you can’t have a good time unless you get blind drunk. The cultural acceptance that allows violence and abuse to happen because “I was drunk, I didn’t know what I was doing.”

“That’s what I want to see changed and I’m pleased the Chief Commissioner has indicated he wants changes as well.  I very much look forward to working with him on this project.

“Family First has draft laws before the Senate to tackle binge drinking through health warning labels, banning daytime TV advertising of alcohol, taking control of alcohol advertising away from the alcohol industry and educating people about the dangers of binge drinking.

“The Rudd government has failed to tackle this serious issue. Last year I indicated I would support the government’s alcopops tax because I wanted to help shore up our economy but the Rudd government was also told it had to do more to tackle this serious issue than just raise taxes.

“I’ve read the new research in the Medical Journal of Australian however substitution of drinks is still occurring. What people are failing to get - the government most of all - is that Australia has a culture of alcohol bingeing and that’s what has to be addressed. It will take time and much more than just hauling in some tax dollars.”