Alcohol Permits
We got official word from the Northern Territory alcohol commission (i think) today, about the situation under new alcohol ban laws, brought in as part of the federal government’s “intervention” in Aboriginal communities in the Territory. The letter was a bit ambiguous and the person who deals with alcohol permits at the council interpreted it in a different way to me.
It said existing permits will still be valid. She thought this meant that the existing permit system would still be in place (and therefore new ones could be issued) – whereas i didn’t see there was any indication that new permits would be issued. However, it wouldn’t seem to make any sense to allow people with existing permits to continue drinking – but not be able to issue new ones. It would create a weird two-tier society where people who came to Maningrida later – or reached the age of 18 later – didn’t have the same privileges as people who were here before all this started.
Anyway, the permit committee is meeting tomorrow apparently. And i’ve got an application in for a permit. So we’ll see what actually happens i guess. But i suppose i really should read the new law and find out for myself…
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