Everyone deserves to be safe in their own home. But family and domestic violence shatters far too many lives across Australia every year.
For too long, governments have ignored alcohol’s role in fuelling gender-based violence.
Tragically, this violence disproportionally impacts women, and often impacts children in the family due to maltreatment and neglect.
The causes of family violence are deep rooted in our society, involving harmful cultural norms and structural inequalities. Alcohol use is not a cause or excuse for violence, but in many instances is a significant risk factor that can exacerbate family violence.
Alcohol is involved in between 23% and 65% of all police-reported family violence incidents.
The use of alcohol by perpetrators of violence also increases the severity of family violence, leading to higher rates of physical violence and injury.
Acknowledging the harmful role of alcohol in family violence is an important part of this wider effort to keep women and children safe.
State and territory governments around Australia have the power to keep women and children safe, by better regulating the way alcohol is marketed, sold and delivered into homes.
But right now the intense lobbying from alcohol companies, who wield significant influence in the corridors of power is stopping this from happening.
Across Australia, there is clear recognition that the prevention of family violence is a priority. Acknowledging the harmful role of alcohol in family violence is an important part of this wider effort to keep women and children safe.
Controlling the availability of alcohol in the community is an important part of a holistic response to family violence prevention. Australian evidence shows increased alcohol outlets, particularly packaged liquor outlets like bottle-shops, increases rates of family violence.
A further study in New South Wales found the extension to takeaway alcohol sales from a 10pm close to an 11pm close resulted in a statistically significant increase in domestic violence assaults, equating to 1,120 family violence assaults occurring in the 38-months after trading hours were extended.
The explosion of the often-unregulated online sale and delivery of alcohol, making every phone a bottleshop, is also increasing the risk of violence. The rapid delivery of alcohol into homes in as little as 20 minutes is further exacerbating these harms.
We’re calling for common-sense measures to regulate alcohol and prevent violence against women and children, these include:
For years, FARE has drawn attention to the role of alcohol in family violence and advocating for action to prevent family violence. We have collaborated with organisations and shared policy recommendations in the form of submissions at state and federal levels.
In 2015, FARE published a report The Hidden Harm: Alcohol’s Impact on Children and Families, which revealed the full extent of alcohol-related family and domestic violence in Australia.
The same year, FARE’s National Framework for Action to Prevent Alcohol-related Family Violence was launched by Australian of the Year Rosie Batty at Parliament House in Canberra. This framework proposed policies and programs that Australian governments can implement to have a real and tangible impact on preventing and reducing alcohol-related family violence. The Senate Committee examining domestic violence in Australia acknowledged the role of alcohol in family violence and endorsed the framework developed by FARE.
The seriousness of alcohol’s role in family, domestic and intimate partner violence also became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with FARE, Women’s Safety NSW released Family Violence and Alcohol During COVID-19, a report which assessed the caseload of a range of family violence specialists in crisis support, counselling, court advocacy and supported accommodation.
In 2021, the Victorian Government implemented changes relating to the online sale and delivery of alcohol, including mandatory ID checks when delivering alcohol and the introduction of a licence specific to online sale and delivery.
In 2024, dozens of community, health and Aboriginal organisations join FARE in signing an open letter to National Cabinet, calling for immediate action on better alcohol regulation to reduce rates of men’s violence against women and children.
Following ongoing advocacy, FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi joined 70 experts from across the country at the Crisis Talks Into Missing and Murdered Women, convened by Domestic Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin.
FARE launched a campaign calling for action on alcohol and gendered violence.
If you or someone you know needs advice or help, then please visit the following:
Are you or your organisation interested in this issue and happy to advocate for reform with decision-makers? Send an email to FARE’s Policy and Research Team at info@fare.org.au.
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Today community and health leaders have welcomed the South Australian Government’s proposed changes to alcohol laws, to prioritise the health and wellbeing of women and children.
Today National Cabinet agreed to take action on alcohol to help prevent gender-based violence and violence against children in Australia.
More than 30 community, health, Aboriginal, research and women’s organisations from across Australia are calling on members of the National Cabinet to commit to taking action on alcohol’s role in domestic, family and sexual violence.
Will you join the community taking action on alcohol?
FARE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which we operate throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
©2024 FARE
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FARE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which we operate throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
©2024 FARE
Privacy Statement
T&C
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