Local Government plays a role in the control of alcohol in order to make our communities safer and support the good amenity of public, business and residential areas. Some of their main roles include:
- Managing the physical availability of alcohol.
- Environmental design and planning that supports community wellbeing.
- Improving local economy and attracting tourist dollars with the creation and maintenance of safe environments.
- Creating family friendly environments.
- Preserving public amenities for all.
Many regional and metropolitan Local Governments currently allocate significant resources to respond to and manage alcohol-related issues. While Local Government is not responsible for solving all alcohol problems in the community, there are many ways that existing Local Government activity can be applied to prevent and minimise issues. To find out what you can do click here.
How Does Alcohol Impact on Local Government?
Did you know?
- Alcohol-related anti-social behaviours such as vandalism and criminal damage cost Local Governments across Australia millions of dollars every year in clean-up and repair costs relating to the maintenance of public space and property (Heine 2001).
- Alcohol-related anti-social behaviours such as vandalism result in adverse affects on the amenity of public areas that can be confronting and distressing for the general public and can increase safety risks and perceptions of these risks (King and Richards 2003).
- Some cities spend more than $1 million a year, mainly on uniformed contracted security services (Heine 2001).
- Resource commitments to community safety and crime control activities by Local Government authorities are suggested to have increased more than one hundred fold over the last decade (Heine 2001).
- In many urban Local Government authorities, the increasing need to commit resources to community safety and crime control places a burden on Local Government’s tax base property rates and charges (Heine 2001).
- Cleaning and repairing public property damaged as a result of drunken behaviour is an ongoing financial and resource burden on Local Governments (Drug and Alcohol Office 2007).
A 2005 survey of Western Australian Local Government authorities has shown that many deal either directly or indirectly with a range of alcohol-related issues in their communities. Survey participants reported the following alcohol-related issues occurring in their Local Government area:
- Anti-social behaviour.
- Family issues and domestic violence.
- Vandalism.
- Littering.
- Drinking in public places.
- Drunkenness.
- Drink driving/road safety.
- Violence.
- Underage drinking.