Accords
The abuse and misuse of alcohol costs Queenslanders hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The measure of economic impact should not be restricted to tax payers dollars spent to address issues of safety. The impact extends across businesses and communities through crime, violence, road accidents and loss of productivity - not to mention the burden on our health system.
The State Government is committed to having an effective and sustainable approach to dealing with the misuse of alcohol through a network of Liquor Accords, forming a co-operative approach to local liquor-related issues in local areas. To this end, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation will work with licensees and local communities to enhance and extend voluntary participation in the development and management of Liquor Accords.
Pro-forma liquor accord arrangement
On 7 October 2010, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) granted conditional authorisation for a pro-forma liquor accord arrangement in Queensland for the next three years.
To ensure that price and supply controls are only adopted where there are relevant identified harms, the ACCC has imposed a number of conditions on the approval of the pro-forma liquor accord document. In summary, price and/or supply controls may only be adopted where relevant liquor related harm in and around the licensed premises have been identified.
For more information about this see ACCC determination in respect of a pro-forma liquor accord arrangement (PDF 745 K).
What is a Liquor Accord?
Liquor accords promote a co-operative approach to developing safe and well managed environments in and around licensed premises. They support harm minimisation and responsible serving principles and operate as a component of an overall strategy to ensure safety in the local community and promote effective communication and problem solving between licensees and key stakeholders.
Each liquor accord is formulated by its members to resolve local issues within a local area. Although individual accords may have similar elements, there are no two the same. Strategies are shared and adapted to address similar issues within different communities.
Liquor accords include representatives from licensed premises, businesses, councils, police, government departments and other community organisations. The geographical area covered by an accord is usually determined by its members, taking into consideration police divisional and district boundaries, local government areas and any unique environmental factors, such as stadiums and entertainment precincts.
History of Liquor Accords
Liquor accords were first established in New South Wales and Victoria. Due to their success as mechanisms to manage local alcohol related issues, accords are now being established nationwide. The success of the early accords has generated a drive by industry stakeholders to participate in this essentially self regulating initiative that is underpinned by collaboration, transparency and trust between all stakeholders. As at 1 April 2011, there were over 94 liquor accords operating in Queensland.
Why establish an Accord?
Liquor accords are established to address alcohol related problems in a local area. Accords in Queensland are developing strategies to facilitate a vibrant, successful, responsible and safe entertainment industry. Some specific strategies include:
- minimising anti-social behaviour—including destruction of property and violence—arising from excessive alcohol consumption
- creating effective transport strategies to move people away from a precinct
- developing a communication network between venues to provide the opportunity to call for assistance in dealing with unruly patrons or providing warnings about incidents or troublesome patrons who may be moving between venues.
Outcomes of an Accord
The objectives of accords include but are not limited to:
- reducing of anti-social behaviour in and around licensed premises
- increasing staff awareness of responsible service of alcohol principles
- improving licensees, managers and staff knowledge of legislative obligations
- enhancing community cooperation and understanding of the various roles and resources of government agencies
- reducing road trauma directly related to alcohol abuse
- enhancing community engagement in various controls and strategies that affect their community
- improving local amenity.
Reduced numbers of reports to police and adverse media reports concerning alcohol related incidents, including anti-social behaviour, street incidents, and malicious damage can provide a measure for assessing the effectiveness of liquor accords.
Last reviewed 4 May 2011