Learning from alcohol (policy) reforms in the Northern Territory (LEARNT): protocol for a mixed-methods study examining the impacts of the banned drinker register

Impacts of Northern Territory banned drinker register on police recorded youth assault

INTRODUCTION

In September 2017 the Northern Territory Government of Australia introduced a banned drinker register (BDR) to mitigate the high levels of alcohol-related harm within the Northern Territory. The current study aimed to examine the impact of the Northern Territory BDR on youth (aged <18 years) using police recorded assault data.

METHODS

Interrupted time-series models were used to assess monthly trends in assaults and alcohol-related assaults perpetration and victimisation in the regions of Greater Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine between January 2014 and December 2019.

RESULTS

Examining the three regions combined, after the re-introduction of the BDR a significant step decrease in police recorded youth assault perpetration (β = -1.67) and a significant step increase in police recorded youth assault victimisation (β = 1.40) was identified. However, no significant effects were identified at the individual region level.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that restricting alcohol consumption in high-risk adults through the BDR had a limited immediate effect in police recorded youth assaults. Individual level or contextual factors may have influenced both immediate and long-term impacts of the BDR, and as such, future policy design needs to support and empower community leaders across the policy development and implementation process. A wider evaluation of the BDR currently underway may provide additional understanding behind the mechanisms that underpin alcohol-related harm in the Northern Territory.

Police-recorded adult sexual assault in the Northern Territory, Australia: Alcohol involvement and alcohol policy effects

INTRODUCTION

Between 2017 and 2018 three major alcohol policy changes were introduced in the Northern Territory (NT): the Banned Drinker Register, an individual-level ban enforced via ID scanners at takeaway outlets; a Minimum Unit Price on alcohol; and Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors, who monitor takeaway outlets to prevent purchase by people who do not have a legal place to consume alcohol. We aimed to: (i) describe alcohol-involved adult sexual assault in the NT; and (ii) estimate the impacts of these alcohol policies on police-recorded adult sexual assault.

METHODS

We used victim records for sexual assault where victims were aged 15 years and over. We undertook descriptive analyses for the NT from 2014 to 2020 and used interrupted time series analysis to assess policy impacts across the NT and in Greater Darwin.

RESULTS

In 2020, the NT adult victimisation rate was 105 per 100,000. A large minority (40%) of adult sexual assaults involved alcohol. Interrupted time series analyses showed no effect of the Banned Drinker Register or Minimum Unit Price on sexual assault across the NT or in Greater Darwin.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The rate of adult sexual assaults in the NT is extremely high and many involve alcohol. Neither the Banned Drinker Register or Minimum Unit Price were associated with changes in police-recorded adult sexual assault in Greater Darwin or across the NT. Due to small counts, we were unable to assess policy impacts in three of the four main towns, highlighting the challenges of assessing impacts of policies on sexual assault in small population areas.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Trends of Violence-Related Offences in Australia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the medium-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on violence-related offences in Australia, and whether there was evidence of a 'dual pandemic' of family violence in addition to COVID-19.

METHODS

Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average time series were conducted to analyse publicly available violent crime statistics data from January 2017 to November 2021. Population rates of homicide, sexual, domestic and non-domestic assault were assessed across each Australian state and territory, with the effects of COVID-19 being modelled using the average monthly World Health Organization COVID-19 stringency rating for each jurisdiction.

FINDINGS

All jurisdictions in Australia showed increasing or stable domestic assault trends over the past decade, which were not significantly impacted by COVID-19, nor by the subsequent lockdowns. Non-domestic assaults demonstrated a significant, negative relationship with the stringency index for each jurisdiction, except Western Australia. There was no significant change in the rates of homicide or sexual assault across Australia in relation to COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Overall, there was no evidence of a 'dual pandemic' in Australia, and whilst domestic assaults continue to increase across the country, non-domestic assaults showed a notable but brief decline. However, these have returned to levels at least as high as pre-COVID-19 and some states show a continuing upward trend. The findings also suggest that alcohol availability may have played a role in continuing high violence numbers. Given the ongoing increasing and high levels of family violence in Australia, revised conceptual frameworks and interventions are indicated.

Can alcohol policy prevent harms to women and children from men's alcohol consumption? An overview of existing literature and suggested ways forward

The World Health Organization's list of cost-effective alcohol control policies is a widely-used resource that highlights strategies to address alcohol-related harms. However, there is more evidence on how recommended policies impact harms to people who drink alcohol-such as physical health problems caused by heavy alcohol use-than on secondhand harms inflicted on someone other than the person drinking alcohol, i.e., alcohol's harms to others. In this essay, we describe evidence of impacts of alcohol policy on harms to women and children resulting from men's alcohol consumption, as well as options for making policies more relevant for reducing intimate partner violence and child abuse. We begin with an overview of harms to women and children resulting from men's alcohol consumption and review cost-effective alcohol policies with potential to reduce these harms based on likely mechanisms of action. Next, we present a rapid review of reviews to describe existing evidence of impacts of these policies on the outcomes of physical violence, sexual violence, and child abuse and neglect. We found little evidence of systematic evaluation of impacts of these important alcohol policies on harms to women and children. Thus, we advocate for increased attention in evaluation research to the impacts of alcohol policies on harms experienced by women and children who are exposed to men who drink alcohol. We also argue for more consideration of a broader range of policies and interventions to reduce these specific types of harm. Finally, we present a conceptual model illustrating how alcohol policies may be supplemented with other interventions specifically tailored to reduce alcohol-related harms commonly experienced by women and children as a result of men's alcohol use.

'A recipe for cultural disaster!'- a case study of Woolworths Group's proposal to build an alcohol megastore in Darwin, Northern Territory

BACKGROUND

The health and wellbeing impacts of commercial activity on Indigenous populations is an emerging field of research. The alcohol industry is a key driver of health and social harms within Australia. In 2016 Woolworths, the largest food and beverage retailer in Australia, proposed to build a Dan Murphy's alcohol megastore in Darwin, near three 'dry' Aboriginal communities. This study examines the tactics used by Woolworths to advance the Dan Murphy's proposal and understand how civil society action can overcome powerful commercial interests to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.

METHODS

Data from 11 interviews with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal informants were combined with data extracted from media articles and government, non-government and industry documents. Thematic analysis was informed by an adapted corporate health impact assessment framework.

RESULTS

Woolworths employed several strategies including lobbying, political pressure, litigation, and divisive public rhetoric, while ignoring the evidence suggesting the store would increase alcohol-related harm. The advocacy campaign against the proposal highlighted the importance of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups working together to counter commercial interests and the need to champion Aboriginal leadership. Advocacy strategies included elevating the voices of community Elders in the media and corporate activism via Woolworths' investors.

CONCLUSIONS

The strategies used by the coalition of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups may be useful in future advocacy campaigns to safeguard Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing from commercial interests.

Key informant perspectives on the enforcement of police-imposed barring notices and prohibition orders in Western Australia

INTRODUCTION

Individuals who engage in problematic behaviours within Australian night-time entertainment precincts can be banned from entering certain locations. Bans are expected to deter recipients, and prospective recipients, from further inappropriate behaviours. The collective effect is intended to reduce crime and increase community safety within entertainment precincts. This article explores key informant perspectives regarding the enforcement of two patron banning mechanisms (police barring notices and prohibition orders) used across Western Australia.

METHODS

Interviews were conducted with 54 participants, including licensees, venue staff, WA Police officers, ID scanner representatives, and Registered Training Organisations.

RESULTS

Few participants opposed patron banning in principle, but most identified limitations within the current operation of both provisions. Concerns were expressed about the effectiveness of enforcement, linked to questions about the way in which banned patron information is currently shared and the practicalities of identifying recipients of bans. Suggestions included improved data-sharing protocols and the wider use of ID scanners.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

With improvements to operational processes-particularly more effective sharing of banned patron data, and consideration of networked ID scanners-there is clear potential to improve the enforcement and increase the effectiveness of police barring notices and prohibition orders. This study is part of a wider project which has examined the use and effects of patron banning in WA. Additional findings are presented in further papers.