NEW research shows that alcohol-related crime, particularly in the early hours in Canberra, is estimated to cost taxpayers $11.7 million. 

The new “DASHED” report from Deakin University examined alcohol-related problems in Canberra and Hobart, and reveals the alcohol cost burden is greater in the early hours of the morning.

Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), chief executive Michael Thorn says there is strong evidence that a modest reduction in trading hours will prevent many of these harms.

He says: “This report provides further evidence that late night trading is associated with increased risk of harm in the community. Alcohol places a huge burden on local hospitals and emergency workers and the broader community.

“In the ACT each month, six people die and a further 189 are hospitalised as a result of alcohol. The newly formed ACT Government should address these harms and make our community safer by introducing modest reductions to the trading hours of pubs, clubs, and bars.”

Also in the report researchers found 47 per cent of the people interviewed had experienced negative encounters in and around licensed venues in Civic and Braddon, including being subject to verbal aggression, physical aggression, or receiving unwanted sexual attention.

Alcohol-related hospitalisations in the ACT are also on the rise, with the rate of high alcohol hours (HAH) emergency department presentations increasing from 61.5 per 10,000 people in 2010 to 70 per 10,000 in 2014.

Mr Thorn says this harm comes at considerable cost to the community, both in terms of the physical, psychological and emotional harms of violence and injury, but also in terms of the substantial economic cost and burden on emergency services.

“Much of this cost is entirely preventable. With the government yet to finalise its review of the Liquor Act, it is vital the extent of alcohol harm in Canberra is acknowledged and that steps are taken to address it and make our communities, our streets and our homes safer.”

The investigation included interviews with more than 1600 people in entertainment precincts, coupled with researcher observations of licensed venues and data from local police, ambulance services, emergency departments, and licensing bodies.