1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: We know the Alice Springs based People's Action Alcohol Whole 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: Action Coalition I'm struggling with that today, has taken aim 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: at Endeavor Drinks Group and Coals after the Coalition claim 4 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: the company made the decision to sell low priced wine 5 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: while the other seven takeaway outlets in Alice Springs have 6 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: agreed to keep the price at a dollar thirty a drink. 7 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: That's despite the CLP's repeal of the minimum unit price 8 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: provisions of the Liquor Act that took effect on the 9 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: first of March. Now, joining us on the line to 10 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: talk more about this is doctor John Boffer, PAX spokesperson. 11 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, doctor Boffer. Good Katie, thanks so 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 1: much for your time this morning. Now, the People's Alcohol 13 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: Action Coalition issued the statement earlier in the week claiming 14 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: and Devor Drinks and Coals have dropped the prices, Doctor Boffer, 15 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: how cheap are we talking? And where have you seen 16 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: this happening? 17 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 2: So look, we're talking a dollar standard drinks, eight dollars 18 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:05,839 Speaker 2: of red wine and similar to bottles of white. It's 19 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 2: happening at liquor Land and the Endeavor outlet's b WS. 20 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,559 Speaker 2: It's not happening anywhere else, because, as you just pointed out, 21 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 2: we have a voluntary liquor cord, which was incredibly well 22 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 2: received by the community when it was announced, with all 23 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 2: the other outlets participating. There was some suggestion that initially 24 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 2: the Endeavor Group and Liquor Name will be part of it. 25 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 2: They're not part of it. And although they're claiming that well, 26 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 2: they probably do have a limit, which the limits to 27 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 2: a dollar as fund of drink is way too cheap. 28 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: This town does not need this. We do not need 29 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 2: alcohol at this level back on the market. We waited. 30 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 2: We didn't go public with this until we saw how 31 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: quickly these products are going off the shells. So starts 32 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 2: off with one row, then you've got three rows, and 33 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 2: then if you go into these outlets, you'll see that 34 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: every shelf full except these cheap wine shells are empty. 35 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 2: So this just shows you how quickly people find the 36 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 2: cheapest form of alcohol. We don't need this, and we 37 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 2: really are employing the Endeavor Group and Liquor Land to 38 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 2: join the other springs who accord. 39 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:17,399 Speaker 1: Doctor Boffer, why is this move the wrong move? When 40 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: I guess some listening this morning, you're going to be saying, well, 41 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: people are still going to be drinking regardless of the price, 42 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: and they're still going to get their hands on alcohol 43 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: no matter what. 44 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's true. People will still drink regardless of the price, 45 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 2: but they'll drink less. That's the whole point. This is 46 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: not about stopping people and drinking. It's people getting less 47 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 2: joint less often causing less harm. And look, I just 48 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 2: want to comment. I noticed the endeavor greeps come out 49 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: saying they've implemented voluntary restrictions on sales volume MAgric limits. 50 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: Those volumemegic limits are useless. I'd be quite happy for 51 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 2: them to stop it straight away. This is self promotion, 52 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 2: not health promotion. So if we're serious about what needs 53 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 2: to be done to help the police address clot running, 54 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 2: we'd allow the data from the BDR to go to 55 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 2: the police so the police are aware of who are 56 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: the people in the community who are buying large volumes 57 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 2: of alcohol every week. These sorts of self imposed by 58 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 2: eumetric limits don't cut it. What does cut it is 59 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 2: price and the training hours. Now, the training hours are 60 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 2: imposed by law by the government and they've been immensely successful. 61 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 2: Our take away three days duristic to take away trading hours. 62 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 2: They've had a big impact on our screens. The town 63 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: just recovering. We're recovering in terms of our reputation nationally, 64 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: and that's so important to this town, particularly in terms 65 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 2: of attracting workforce to all of the essential services. We 66 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 2: need cheap alcohol back on the market, like we need 67 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: a hole in the head, and they just need to 68 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: stop it, Doctor Boffer. 69 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: I know again, you know some will be listening this 70 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: morning and going is there evidence to support that the 71 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: minimum unit price made a big difference? I mean, what 72 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: would you sort of point to to demonstrate to people 73 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: that it has had a what do you have impact? 74 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 2: Look, there was evidence very much for the first after 75 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 2: it was implemented. It then became difficult because of COVID 76 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: and holy because other policy changes have happened to show 77 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: exactly what it was achieving. But the best evidence is 78 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 2: the incredible reduction in all causes alcohol mortality in the 79 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 2: Northern Territory that has gone down almost of the national average. 80 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 2: The national average bank six hundred thousand. We were at 81 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: seven and we started at sixteen, So we have produced 82 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 2: we were reducing alcoholo odd death. I predict that that's 83 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 2: going to be reversed because of the decision to have 84 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: been cheap alcohol back on the market, particularly and dar Now. 85 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 2: I know it is a territory wide problem here, but 86 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 2: at least in our springs, we've got the outlets who 87 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 2: live in this community who have seen the harm that 88 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 2: alcohol can do, who know that cheap alcohol is part 89 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 2: of the problem. I don't. We've moved on now. Outlets 90 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 2: themselves understand if if products are a cheap they go 91 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 2: out the door volumes like no other product does. So 92 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 2: people can see what cheap alcohol does in terms of 93 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 2: the contribution, the disproportioned contribution it makes to alcohololated hard 94 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 2: and I'm sure v group out of liquor Land know 95 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: that as well. So I think for our community, we've 96 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: got the biggest alcohol related for them in the nation. 97 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: We need a differential response. We need these two big 98 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 2: outlets who, after all, make an enormous amount of money 99 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: through their food. They've got monopolies, they've got great supermarkets. 100 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: People use them. They don't need to be making this 101 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 2: sort of money from cheap alcohol in this town. 102 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: Doctor Boffer, What are the next steps from your perspective? 103 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,239 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously raising this publicly is the first step. 104 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: What are the next steps from your perspective. Have you 105 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: guys written to Endeavor Group, what do you plan to 106 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: do next? 107 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're planning we're going to have a meeting with 108 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 2: the Endeavor Group. They've reached out already for a meeting 109 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 2: the Cold, haven't it. But we'll meet with Endeavor, We'll 110 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 2: talk to them. I encourage both Liquor Land and Endeavor 111 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 2: Group to talk to the police, talk to the police 112 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,559 Speaker 2: at a high level and find out what they think, 113 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 2: talk to other people in the community. Like I just 114 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 2: think we're on a stage now where so many people 115 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,799 Speaker 2: get this. We do not want this in this town. 116 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 2: And I think we will meet with Devor and hopefully 117 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 2: we'll meet with Colds and written to them and will 118 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 2: try and attempt to appeal to them to become part 119 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 2: of the court. Because after all, back in twenty eleven 120 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 2: when we first had a court and the court it 121 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 2: was led by Coles and Wilworth back then, So this 122 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 2: time every other outlet is doing it except then, which 123 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 2: is disappointing. So I think we're going to appeal to 124 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 2: them to become part of the court and set the 125 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 2: limit at a double thirty, which is giving me high 126 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 2: than where they're selling these sheep bottles and wine at 127 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 2: now well. 128 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: Doctor John Boffer, really appreciate your time this morning. Thank 129 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: you so very much for joining us, and thank you 130 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: for making us away. 131 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie here