Police chiefs unite in push for alcohol reforms

Australia's top police have backed measures to fight the nation's binge-drinking scourge.

Concern at the level of alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour have led to a call for steps to end the "drink to get drunk culture".

Chief commissioners have asked for reforms including:

Consideration of higher taxes for higher alcohol drinks and tax breaks for lower alcohol drinks.

Discouraging "vertical drinking", where patrons are encouraged to drink standing with nowhere to put glasses, encouraging faster drinking.

Promoting licensee accountability to cut the amount of alcohol being served to drunk and under-age patrons.

Establishing sobering-up centres as alternatives to locking up drunks.

The reforms, which commissioners said would not apply everywhere, were suggested as Victoria prepares to launch its latest move against alcohol-related trouble in the CBD.

A lockout that will bar entry to licensed city venues after 2am begins on Tuesday.

The police commissioners said alcohol-related crime cost an estimated $1.7 billion a year. They said 40 per cent of people detained attributed their offence to alcohol.

Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said Victorian police had adopted several tactics in the past year, including the Safe Streets Taskforce and a licensing crackdown.

Under laws introduced last year, 121 people have been issued with orders banning them from the CBD and Chapel St for 24 hours.

Ms Nixon said a trial of the 2am lockout system was another step.

"Victoria Police will continue to target alcohol-related issues right across the state, and already we are seeing some significant results in areas such as the level of assaults occurring," she said.

NSW Chief Commissioner Andrew Scipione said reforms should counter a "drink to get drunk" culture.

He said the full financial burden of alcohol-related crime in Australia could be as much as $15 billion a year.

"What many young Australians are doing now is going out determined to get drunk, whatever the consequences," Mr Scipione said.

He singled out a rise in "vertical drinking" venues, which encourage faster drinking because there are few places to sit or put down your drink.

"The more you consume, the quicker you consume it, the drunker you get. So this is an emerging problem."

South Australian Chief Commissioner Mal Hyde said liquor laws needed to be more specific, citing a lack of a clear legal definition of intoxication.

"It's not a question of being a wowser or party pooper. It's a question of getting the right sort of balance," Mr Hyde said.

He said some happy hours, where alcohol was served at reduced prices, should be banned. with AAP

Herald Sun