Thanks for your feedback. We will be back in contact soon with a draft policy for your feedback.

In the meantime take a look at what the community had to say about alcohol in Hobsons Bay

Alcohol is the most widely used drug in Australia, with drinking often associated with socialising and relaxation. However, alcohol also causes harm in local communities, both in terms of long-term impacts (such as chronic disease) and short-term impacts (such as injury or accidents).

Almost two-thirds of Hobsons Bay residents (62%) are at increased risk of alcohol-related harm, higher than the rate for Greater Melbourne (58%). Additionally, most residents have convenient access to licensed alcohol outlets, and relatively few residents abstain or no longer drink alcohol.

Under the Local Government Act 2020 and the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, Council is responsible for protecting and promoting the health and wellbeing of local communities. As such, Council seeks to prevent and reduce the harmful impacts of alcohol, particularly on vulnerable groups.

Council’s Minimising the Harm of Alcohol Policy Statement 2016 aimed to mitigate the negative impacts of alcohol by adopting a harm minimisation approach, focused on influencing demand, supply and harm reduction. While Council cannot introduce major legislative or regulatory reform, the policy statement has guided Council’s actions and decision-making through a series of commitments and actions.

The Policy Statement is now due for review, and we are developing a new Alcohol Harm Prevention Policy. It will replace the 2016 policy.

The updated policy will consider changes since 2016, including legislative and regulatory reform and increased access via home delivery services.

This Preliminary engagement will help shape the draft policy, which will be made available for further public consultation in 2024.

Fast facts

Click on the hotspots for facts about alcohol in Hobsons Bay