MORE than half a century after artist Albert Namatjira was given Australian citizenship and the right to drink, indigenous leaders have gathered at the site of his former camp to discuss ways to loosen the grip of alcohol on their communities...
"...Aboriginal peak organisations at the summit have come up with a number of recommendations to fight alcoholism in their communities, including reinstating the Banned Drinkers Register, which was abolished by the NT government after last year's election.
Other proposed recommendations to take to government include a floor price for alcohol, stopping alcohol sponsorship of sport, banning advertising, encouraging community members to take a stand against grog runners and blanket alcohol restrictions.
"People have come up with a fairly broad platform of measures which, put together, will make a big difference," Dr John Boffa, 2012's Northern Territory Australian of the Year and a spokesman for the People's Alcohol Action Coalition told AAP.
Speakers at the summit expressed the view that early intervention and restriction of supply are more effective than punitive measures such as the mandatory treatment regime which forces people into rehabilitation.
"As the government gets closer to the next election and starts to come to terms with the fact that alcohol consumption (is) going up in spite of their mandatory treatment regime, they'll come back to the table and start asking what works," Dr Boffa said."
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/indigenous-leaders-gather-for-grog-summit/story-e6frfku9-1226688925013