Restrictions on when and how much takeaway alcohol can be sold in WA's Pilbara communities will come into effect from March 31.
Locals will be limited to one carton of beer and three bottles of wine, or one bottle of spirits, per person on weekdays. Hotels and pubs will also be banned from advertising their prices for popular, full-strength beers.
Liquor Licensing director Duncan Ord says the changes were in response to submissions from WA Police on ways to combat alcohol-related abuse.
"The abuse of alcohol in the Pilbara continues to have a negative impact on the community in terms of domestic violence, child abuse, crime and anti-social behaviour," Mr Ord said in a statement Monday.
But industry representatives say the new rules will unfairly impact tourists and responsible drinkers.
"This is 1970s thinking to an issue that we have learned needs a more nuanced, collaborative and well thought-out solution," Liquor Stores Association chief executive Peter Peck said.
A register of banned drinkers would better target alcohol abuse in the region, he said.
The WA government has pledged to conduct a trial of the register.
WA Police said alcohol-related domestic violence in the Pilbara is seven times the metropolitan rate, while the Department of Child Protection and Family Services revealed just under half of all reported domestic violence incidents involved alcohol. A third of those involved children.
The Pilbara town of Port Hedland already has a Sunday takeaway alcohol ban in place, while in Newman sales are prohibited before 10am weekdays.
- AAP
