MORE people in country areas like the MIA are being adversely impacted by alcohol misuse compared to their city counterparts.
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The NSW/ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance (NAAPA) has put alcohol-fuelled harm on the 2019 NSW election agenda.
The alliance wants community members in places such as Leeton and Griffith to write to their local member and forthcoming candidates to express why something needs to be done regarding alcohol and the affects it has on not just the people drinking it, but those around them.
According to NAAPA regional, rural and remote communities experience disproportionate levels of alcohol harm, with domestic assaults 12 times higher in rural and remote regions compared to NSW as a whole.
Alliance spokesman Tony Brown said it was important the community got behind the organisation’s call for change.
“Sadly, the biggest areas of domestic violence are in National party seats and this can be linked to alcohol use,” he said.
“This needs to be an election issue. What are our politicians doing to stop this in rural and regional areas?
“I urge all community members to write to their local member and implore them to do something.”
Alcohol is also a contributing factor in accidents and deaths in regional NSW, according to Mr Brown.
He said alcohol was a present factor in motor vehicle accidents, youth suicide and inland drownings.
The alliance is advocating for a ban on alcohol, rather strategies that minimise its impacts, should as licensed hotels serving “last drinks” earlier.
“Alcohol is still the biggest problem in NSW by a country mile,” Mr Brown said. “This is backed up by the frontline workers.
“The paramedics, hospital staff, doctors, community workers.
“We need to focus on the safety and health side of things and not the profit side of the industry.
“The community isn't stupid. It can see how politics is being influenced by those who can help fund them.”
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