To the Editor: We welcome the recent article by Secombe and colleagues1 highlighting the impact of alcohol policy reforms in the Northern Territory, namely the influence of the minimum floor price on critical care admissions.1 We agree that the social costs and harms of alcohol in the NT are too high,2 and are reassured by the improved health outcomes associated with the implementation of emerging alcohol policies.3,4 There have been, however, other notable alcohol and social policy investments in the NT, including the introduction of Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors (PALIs).
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- 1. Secombe PJ, Stewart P, Brown A, et al. The impact of an alcohol floor price on critical care admissions in Central Australia. Med J Aust 2019; https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.50404. [Epub ahead of print] https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2019/212/5/impact-alcohol-floor-price-critical-care-admissions-central-australia
- 2. Smith J, Whetton S, d'Abbs P. The social and economic costs and harms of alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory. Darwin: Menzies School of Health Research, 2019. https://www.menzies.edu.au/icms_docs/302326_Final_Report_-_Social_and_Economic_Costs_and_Harms_of_Alcohol_Consumption_in_the_Northern_Territory.pdf (viewed Dec 2019).
- 3. Smith JA, Livingston M, Miller P, et al. Emerging alcohol policy innovation in the Northern Territory, Australia. Health Promot J Aust 2019; 30: 3–6.
- 4. Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education; People's Alcohol Action Coalition. Northern Territory alcohol harm‐reduction report: assessment of preliminary data on the Riley Review reforms on the anniversary of the NT Minimum Unit Price. FARE, 2019. http://fare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/NT-Alcohol-Harm-reduction-Report.pdf (viewed Dec 2019).
- 5. Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00111 (viewed Feb 2020).
- 6. Smith JA, Adamson E, Clifford S, Wallace T. Compendium report: twelve‐month evaluation of the Banned Drinker Register in the Northern Territory: Part 2 — a qualitative analysis of selected stakeholder perspectives. Darwin: Menzies School of Health Research, 2019. https://www.menzies.edu.au/icms_docs/312605_12_Month_BDR_evaluation_compendium_report_-_Part_2.pdf (viewed Dec 2019).
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