The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) has supported Coroner Ingrid Giles’ call for reforms to the state’s alcohol laws today, including restrictions to the delivery of alcohol.
Following the Inquest into the death of Victorian woman, Ms Kathleen Arnold, due to “alcohol toxicity in the context of chronic alcohol consumption,” the Coroner’s recommendations include:
- prohibit home delivery of alcohol between 10pm and 10am.
- require a minimum two-hour delay between order and dispatch of alcohol for home delivery.
- develop a new Alcohol Action Plan or a program of work (including specific actions, timeframes, accountabilities, and public reporting on implementation and evaluation) to address alcohol related harms.
The death of Ms Arnold is a tragedy, said FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi, and reforms are urgently needed.
“Kathleen Arnold was a young woman in her 30s who lost her life – this is absolutely devastating and should never have happened.
“We’ve had a number of families share with us stories of loved ones who have lost their lives to alcohol, and how the delivery of alcohol into people’s homes played a significant role in this.
“Families should not have to plead with governments to help them. The Victorian Government should introduce the measures that have been recommended to them time and time again, to give people who are trying to cut back from alcohol a chance.
“Right now, every phone is a bottle shop and alcohol can be delivered into people’s homes within 30 minutes, so the odds are stacked against people who are trying to make a change.
“Governments have a responsibility to put simple measures in place to help people in our communities,” she said.
Ms Giorgi says the Victorian Government should implement the recommendations of the Coronial Inquest.
“How many people need to die before the Victorian Government acts? How many Inquiries, Reviews, Inquests and Royal Commissions need to be held before the health and wellbeing of our families and communities is prioritised?
“We’re calling on the Victorian Government to implement the Coroner’s recommendations in full.”
