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Alcohol Restrictions Whilst Travelling

The grey nomad population has a thoroughly enjoyable travelling tradition commonly referred to as ‘Happy Hour’. The unwritten rule is that camp will be set sometime between three and five in the afternoon and an hour or two shall be spent with the neighbours enjoying a couple of cold drinks and some nibbles.

Likewise for a large percentage of the travelling population, sitting around enjoying the sunset over a glass of something cold is an all-important part of the travelling and camping experience. Sadly some of the more remote communities in Australia are battling an ongoing problem with alcohol addiction and the associated crime that goes with it. By far the region with the most obvious effects of alcohol abuse on the local population would have been, for us, Kunanurra. We witnessed clearly intoxicated people staggering about the local shopping centre as early ten in the morning, some asking for spare change, some arguing amongst themselves and others sleeping off the effects of last nights bender. This was a view of a people who had clearly been negatively affected by the introduction of alcohol to the local community. As a result of this type of culture, many of the regions and communities have implemented strict alcohol limitations and restrictions, which affects all of us, not just the local residents.

The difficulty for the modern traveller around Australia is that these laws aren’t universal and differ from not only state-by-state but in some instances region by region. There are also strict trading hours for the sale of alcohol and in many cases photo identification is required to purchase alcohol. How do these bans and controls affect the average couple enjoying their time travelling the country? Well if you don’t drink alcohol then it doesn’t. If, like me you enjoy a beer in the afternoon then it definitely has an impact. For example when we were leaving Kununurra we were anticipating at least a month of roaming and meandering our way down to Broome, the next major town where we could replenish supplies. Sure you could still buy alcohol in many of the small towns and road houses that dot the remote regions of the country but, like most we travel on a strict budget and try and buy provisions in bulk from the larger towns and cities and cart what we can with us. So we packed up camp and headed into the township to stock up before hitting the big blue yonder. As I mentioned it was about ten in the morning when we rolled up at the local bottle shop only to find that it didn’t open for another two hours. We decided we would make today a short day on the road and spent the next two hours stocking the pantry and enjoying the sunshine beside the Ord river.

Twelve o’clock rolled around and I wandered through the bottle shop grabbing two cartons of beer, four bottles of wine and a bottle of bourbon. Upon arriving at the checkout the attendant was having a battle with one of the locals explaining that he couldn’t sell her any alcohol as she had already exceeded the daily limit. All licensed premises in Kununurra are connected via a software program and it showed that she had already purchased elsewhere. She eventually accepted his decision and moved on. As I sidled up to the counter the lad advised me that I wouldn’t be able to purchase everything that I had laid out in front of him. I ended up having to do two transactions, one in my name and one in Rainey’s and we still had to leave one carton and two bottles of wine behind.

To help you enjoy a happy hour tipple and stay on the right side of the law we have put together a comprehensive guide to buying and transporting of alcohol in restricted areas and regions.  This by no means constitutes legal advise and as always you should conduct your own research but we have endevoured to put as much information and as many links as possible all on one site.  We have omitted New South Wales, Victoria & Tasmania as at the time of compiling this information they had no laws specifically aimed at alcohol consumption within the indigenous communities that we are aware of. 

   

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Alcohol Restrictions in the Northern Territory

Alcohol Restrictions in the Northern Territory are as strict and as confusing as any where else the country and there are more than 100 places in the NT where alcohol is totally banned under the law.  These are known as general restricted areas, which are controlled by the NT Government, or alcohol protected areas, which are controlled by the Federal Government.

Alcohol is totally banned in these areas outside a licensed premises without a liquor permit or special event licence.  You will find signage at the entrance of these communities telling you whether it is a general restricted or an alcohol protected area.  In some cases alcohol may be brought into a general restricted area under conditions stated on a permit - eg: for consumption at permit holders’ homes, where there is no licensed liquor outlet, in the case of Lajamanu, Maningrida, Wadeye, Barunga and Yirrkala.  Alcohol is available from a local community outlet, for drinking at a defined drinking area, such as Beswick, which has a permit system and a social club but no takeaway alcohol sales.   If you are from Beswick you can buy takeaway alcohol from another area or drink takeaway alcohol at home.

Ban on alcohol in a public area

This is known as a public restricted area and will have signage in place. If you drink alcohol in a public restricted area, the police can do all of the following:

  • search you for alcohol
  • take your alcohol and/or tip it out
  • give you a fine
  • take you to court where you can be given a maximum fine of 20 penalty units.  (What's a penalty unit?)

However, you can carry or transport unopened alcohol through a public restricted area to another unrestricted area or private premises to drink.

Find out where you can't drink in the NT. 

Regulated drinking areas

Drinking alcohol in a public place is banned within 2km of a licensed premises everywhere in the NT. Only a small number of places have exemptions.

These areas will have signage telling you that you are in a regulated area. You can be fined or taken to court if you are found drinking alcohol in these areas.

Ban on drinking at private premises

This is known as a private restricted area. Each private restricted area must have signage at the front of the premises.

This is a private premise, such as a home or business, where alcohol is totally banned.

Emergency alcohol bans

This is as known as special restricted area.

An area can be declared as special restricted area in urgent situations when it is considered to be for the wellbeing of the community.

A total alcohol ban will be in place unless you have a permit.

But what does all this mean to the casual traveller?

If you are travelling to the Northern Territory (NT), you should make sure you know the laws about drinking and buying alcohol as you can be fined or imprisoned if you break the law. There are many NT communities where alcohol is totally banned, known as dry areas. 

Go to list of restricted areas for more information.

There are some areas where you must have a liquor permit to drink alcohol.  

There are also places in the NT where it is illegal to drink alcohol in public places. 

Changes to who can buy takeaway alcohol

From 1 September 2017 all Territorians and visitors to the Northern Territory will need to show photo ID to buy takeaway alcohol.

Find out more about the changes to who can buy takeaway alcohol.

Buying takeaway alcohol

There are rules for buying takeaway alcohol in some areas of the Northern Territory that apply to everyone, including tourists and visitors. 

In some areas you must show photo ID to buy takeaway alcohol. 

Find out more about buying takeaway alcohol. 

Transporting alcohol through dry areas

You may take unopened alcohol through a restricted area but you cannot drink it, give it away or sell where there is an alcohol ban. 

Go to list of restricted areas for more information.

Penalties

You may be fined, imprisoned or have your vehicle, boat or plane seized if you use them to transport alcohol to a restricted area for distribution without a liquor licence. 

Find out more about alcohol penalties and offences.

Drinking in public places

To find out where you can and can't drink alcohol in public go to:

 
 Go to a list of restricted areas to see where alcohol is totally banned.