ALCOHOL: - REDUCING THE HARM AND CURBING THE CULTURE OF EXCESS - Report No.10 - Presented by Dr J.M. Woollard, MLA

Sep 20, 2026

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Report No.10 from the Education and Health Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly focuses on reducing alcohol-related harm in Western Australia and addressing drinking culture. The document outlines committee membership, functions and powers, inquiry terms of reference, and an executive summary. It then presents findings and recommendations across an alcohol impact overview, state costs, health effects, industry stakeholders, and strategies to lower drinking rates, followed by legislative changes to strengthen liquor control and enforcement.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages384

Reading Time16 h 8 min

AccessFree to download

Committee’s Functions and Powers

Inquiry Terms of Reference

Chairman's Foreword

Abbreviations

Executive Summary

Findings

Recommendations

Ministerial Response

Chapter 1 Overview of the Impact of Alcohol on Western Australians

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Background to the Inquiry

1.3 Costs to the State From Current Alcohol Drinking Rates

1.4 Health Impacts of Alcohol

1.5 Powerful Industry Stakeholders

1.6 Recent Developments to Lower Drinking Rates

1.7 Comparison of Consumption Rates

1.8 Western Australian Consumption Rates

Chapter 2 Legislative Changes to Improve the Effectiveness of the Liquor Control Act 198

EDUCATION AND HEALTHSTANDING COMMITTEE ALCOHOL: REDUCING THE HARM ANDCURBING THE CULTURE OF EXCESS Report No.10 Presented by:Dr J.M.Woollard,MLA Laid on the Table of the Legislative Assemblyon 23 June 2011 Chairman Deputy Chairman Members Principal Research OfficerResearch Officer Dr David Worth,PhD,MBA Mr Michael Burton,BEc,BA(Hons)(from 21 June to 30 June 2010) Ms Renée Gould,BA,PGDip.A(PW)(from 1 July 2009 to 30 October 2009) Mr Timothy Hughes,BA(Hons)(until 27 May 2010) Ms Alice Jones,BA(Comm.St.)(Hons)(from 23 July 2010 to 3 August 2010) Mr John Seal-Pollard,BA(Hons)(from 5 August to 20 August 2010) Ms Lucy Roberts,BA(Hons),Grad Cert(Arts)(from 23 August 2010) COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dr J.M.Woollard,MLAMember for Alfred Cove Mr P.Abetz,MLAMember for Southern River Ms L.L.Baker,MLAMember for Maylands Mr I.C.Blayney,MLAMember for Geraldton(until 24 March 2011) Hon Dr G.G.Jacobs,MLAMember for Eyre(from 24 March 2011) Mr P.B.Watson,MLAMember for Albany COMMITTEE STAFF Education and Health Standing CommitteeLegislative AssemblyParliament HouseHarvest TerracePERTHWA 6000 COMMITTEE ADDRESS Tel:(08)92227494 Fax:(08)92227804 Email:laehsc@parliament.wa.gov.au Website:www.parliament.wa.gov.au TABLE OF CONTENTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………i COMMITTEE STAFF………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………i COMMITTEE ADDRESS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………ii COMMITTEE’S FUNCTIONS AND POWERS………………………………………………………………………………………………vii INQUIRY TERMS OF REFERENCE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………ix CHAIRMAN'S FOREWORD………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………xi ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………xvii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………xi FINDINGS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………xxi RECOMMENDATIONS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………xli MINISTERIAL RESPONSE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………vii CHAPTER1 OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF ALCOHOL ON WESTERNAUSTRALIANS…………1 1.1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 (a) A major problem for the State………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 (b) Lack of State Government action………………………………………………………………………………………………………6 (c) Summary of proposed solutions…………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 (d) Need to address the State's drinking culture……………………………………………………………………………………8 (e) Establishing a long-term targe…………………………………………………………………………………………………………9 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE INQUIRY…………………………………………………………………………………………………………10 1.3 COSTS TO THE STATE FROM CURRENT ALCOHOL DRINKING RATES………………………………1 1.4 HEALTH IMPACTS OF ALCOHOL……………………………………………………………………………………………………………15 (a) Previous reports……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15 (b) Recent evidence of health impact………………………………………………………………………………………………………16 (c) The perceived ‘positive'health impacts of wine drinking………………………………………………………19 (d) Impact on developing brains………………………………………………………………………………………………………………20 (e) Population-wide focus required………………………………………………………………………………………………………22 1.5 POWERFULINDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS……………………………………………………………………………………………26 (a) Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………26 (b) Political influence…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………28 (c) Glassing debate- a case study……………………………………………………………………………………………………………30 1.6 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS TOLOWER DRINKING RATES…………………………………………………………32 1.7 COMPARISON OF CONSUMPTION RATES…………………………………………………………………………………………33 (a) International rates…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………33 (b) Australian rates………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………34 1.8 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CONSUMPTION RATES……………………………………………………………………………35 (a) Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………35 (b) High regio

FAQs

What is the report’s main purpose regarding alcohol in Western Australia?

It aims to reduce alcohol-related harm and curb the culture of excess. It links these goals to findings and recommendations on public health and liquor control measures.

Which areas does Chapter 1 cover?

Chapter 1 reviews the impact of alcohol on Western Australians, including introduction and inquiry background, state costs, health impacts, industry stakeholders, and consumption rate comparisons and regional patterns.

What does Chapter 2 focus on?

Chapter 2 examines legislative changes to improve liquor control effectiveness, including public health as the primary object of the Act, definitions, exemptions, administration, enforcement, and controlled purchasing operations.

Sep 20, 2026

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