Media release

National Drug Council welcomes alcohol industry involvement

The Australian National Council on Drugs, the peak advisory body to Government on drug policy, has welcomed the Australian Hotels Association statement that it takes its responsibilities seriously, because that it is exactly what the Council wants the entire alcohol industry to do.

Chairman of the Council, Major Brian Watters, stated "We are glad the AHA recognises the need for responsibility in the promotion, availability and consumption of alcohol. The Council has raised a few issues regarding alcohol and its probably best to clearly re-state just what the Council has called for."

Major Watters added - "Firstly, the Council would like to see the taxing of alcohol to be structured in a way that encourages the consumption of low alcohol products. Secondly, we would like to see an increase in the level of funding available to the range of services that deal with the damage created by alcohol, such as treatment programs, homeless shelters, women’s refuges etc. However, we recognise the already substantial increase in funding provided by the Federal Government, as well as many State and Territory Governments for drug and alcohol programs. So given the many demands on government budgets already, the Council has called for the establishment of an alcohol community benefit fund that provides additional resources to community programs and is fully funded by contributions from the alcohol industry itself, not the consumers. We have also previously called for the consideration of a very modest levy on alcohol to provide additional funds."

Major Watters continued, "I would also like to clarify that the Council provides advice on all drugs, licit and illicit. To suggest that the community only wants the government and the Council to focus on illicit drugs is plainly wrong. The Council in its recent round of consultations around the country heard the message quite clearly that alcohol misuse remains the biggest problem in many communities and they want something done about it".

Mr Gino Vumbaca, Executive Officer of the Council added - "The Council simply wants the alcohol industry to face up to its responsibilities to the community by recognising what we all do, that alcohol misuse not only occurs but creates enormous social costs and problems. If the gambling industry can contribute part of its profits back to the services dealing with the problems it wreaks on individuals, families and the community then why can’t the alcohol industry do the same?"

16 January 2001

Further Inquiries to:

Major Brian Watters, Chairman
0400 780 509

Gino Vumbaca, Executive Officer
02 6279 1650 or 0408 244 552

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