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Qld government drafting laws over liquor delivery.
Queenslanders ordering beer, wine and spirits online could face tough new restrictions as the state government moves to tighten regulation of liquor sales and delivery, in line with NSW and Victoria.
The Queensland government has begun drafting new liquor laws to clamp down on online alcohol sales after research warned of the harmful effects of rapid booze delivery and access to underage drinkers.
Data from the national Alcohol and Drug Foundation shows revenue from online alcohol sales increased by almost 20 per cent since 2016, hitting $1.8 billion in 2021.
Consultation is now open for industry and government stakeholders to comment on the new draft regulatory framework as the Justice Department admits current liquor laws are outdated with regulations focusing on bricks-and-mortar licensed venues.
This initial phase of consultation will be open until 10 May 2023 and will inform further policy development and recommendations on the new regulatory framework. The consultation will also be opened up to the public in the near future so Queenslanders can have their say on the regulation of online liquor sales and delivery.
The alcohol harm advocacy’s chief executive, Caterina Giorgi, told The Courier-Mail in March current drinking laws were largely based on decades-old market trends.
“We want to make sure that people who are delivering alcohol have responsible service of alcohol (training).” Ms Giorgi said.
It said current laws do not include explicit authorisations or harm-minimisation obligations in relation to online liquor sales for delivery. Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the Queensland government’s move followed recent updated regulations in both NSW and Victoria.
Ms Fentiman said the initial phase of the consultation is open now and would contribute to policy development and recommendations on new regulation.
“I encourage the liquor industry and community stakeholders to read the consultation paper and have their say, their views are valued and will contribute to ensuring we get this important reform right,” the Attorney-General said.
Best practice for anyone working in the liquor industry would be to have their responsible service of alcohol certificate for Queensland. So get ahead of the game and ensure that your in-house and contract delivery team members are trained and prepared for the future legal requirements in Queensland – book your RSA training now!