Hoteliers reject calls for alcohol restrictions

[Guest guest]

Liquor retailers have reacted angrily to Tony Abbott's calls for them to examine

their social conscience about the way they sell alcohol in Alice Springs.

The Federal Opposition Leader says he is worried about the volume of alcohol

being sold in the town and the state of the people who are buying it.

Mr Abbott is visiting Alice Springs and says he would rather some of the bars

catering to Indigenous drinkers were not there.

But the manager of one of the most heavily criticised venues says asking

businesses to examine their conscience will not work.

He has called instead for a minimum legal price on grog.

On the last day of his visit to Alice Springs, Mr Abbott again urged businesses

to change the way they sell alcohol in the town.

" It's very important that people act as citizens as well as business people. I

mean, we have to live in this country and live in this town as well as make a

living, " he said.

Ian Drummond is the executive chairman of Aroura Resorts and Hotels, which owns

Alice Spring's Gap View Hotel. He says simply asking business to change will not

work.

" All that happens is that business leaves our properties when we do the right

thing and it goes and rewards people who don't examine their social conscience

and do the wrong things, " he said.

Mr Abbott took particular aim at three Alice Spring bars that open each weekday,

serve hundreds of Indigenous drinkers and then close a few hours later when

takeaway sales become legal.

Mr Abbott says he would rather see the bars closed.

" I don't think they are very helpful to the situation in this town. And I doubt

that they're very helpful for the people who patronise them, " he said.

The Heavitree Gap Tavern that Ian Drummond represents runs one of those three

bars.

But Mr Drummond says it is unreasonable to turn away morning drinkers just

because they are Indigenous and unemployed.

He says his tavern has begun opening at 11:00am instead of 10:00am, and the

takeaway store does not sell cask wine or cheap discount booze.

" At the Heavitree Gap Tavern and supermarket our sales are down roughly a half a

million a year, " he said.

Mr Drummond says there are other retailers in town who are not doing the right

thing.

" Selling really super cheap grog. And that's one thing that does make a

difference. Some places in Alice Springs that's selling wine for $3 a bottle, "

he said.

Most other alcohol retailers were not prepared to talk today.

Coles did not return calls and the managers of two other bars, that heavily

cater to Indigenous drinkers in Alice Springs, either refused to comment or were

not available.

A spokesman for Woolworths says it is already taking steps to reduce

alcohol-related harm.

Mr Drummond says there needs to be a level playing field and that means having a

minimum floor price on alcohol.

" A level playing field would be good and would encourage all the people who are

trying to do the right thing, " he said.

A floor price on alcohol is something the Northern Territory Government has so

far refused to introduce.

The Territory's conservative Country Liberal Opposition wants to make alcohol

easier to access by increasing hours takeaway alcohol can be sold in Alice

Springs.

But that's something Mr Abbott says he does not support.

" I certainly don't think that alcohol restrictions should be watered down. I

think they should be enforced, " he said.

But one thing both sides of politics agree on is that finding a solution to

Alice Springs's alcohol problems is critical.

http://au.news./a/-/latest/9284500/hoteliers-reject-calls-for-alcohol-r\

estrictions/