National Drug and Alcohol Awards

Celebrating Australian achievements to prevent
and reduce alcohol and other drug use and harm

Principal Sponsor

Category Sponsor

Supporters

Collaborating organisations

Mt Isa Police Take Out Law Enforcement Award with ‘BEER’

The Divisional Guide to Liquor Enforcement – Best Analysis, Enforcement, Education and Relationships (BEER) – developed by the Queensland Police Service in Mount Isa has won the Law Enforcement Category of the 2010 National Drug and Alcohol Awards.

The BEER model has proven to be so successful, it is now recognised as a best-practice model for the Queensland Police Service. A key feature of the proactive enforcement operations has been a reduction in “glassings” from nine in 2007 to zero over 2009.

The other two Finalists in this Category are the Assertive Youth Outreach Service (AYOS), a partnership between Victoria Police and the Youth Substance Abuse Services (YSAS); and the Weed it Out Project, a partnership between the Queensland Police Service in Cairns and the James Cook University.

The Liquor Accord underpinning the BEER model is a collaborative venture between police, licensees, local council and transport services, which has successfully reduced alcohol-related crime.

A key factor in the success of the new Liquor Accord has been the detailed analysis performed by Mount Isa Police Officers which has enabled the them to act proactively, rather than merely being a reactionary force.

This analysis fed a new proactive enforcement schedule which resulted in an increase in liquor offences detected, as well as a reduction in service calls to licensed premises.

One successful example resulted in a local liquor store having to reduce trading hours after a show-cause notice was enacted. Likewise, the 2008 Mount Isa Rodeo, an event that receives significant out of area interest and visitors, was successfully managed under the BEER model.

For the majority of liquor licensees who did not need enforcement, Mount Isa Police Officers increased education activities to foster better understanding of liquor license responsibilities. This has resulted in improved relationships between local police and licensees.

The Winner was announced at the National Drug and Alcohol Awards Dinner on Friday 25 June 2010 at the Citigate King George Square Hotel in Brisbane.

Media Enquiries: Brian Flanagan, NDAA Event Manager – Phone: 0400 860 058 (m)

17 June 2010

Top of page | Home