Alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory

This project had two components, to describe regional variation in alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory and examine the effect of the NT Governments cask wine levy.

In regard to the first component, it found that: alcohol consumption in the NT was greater than in Australia as a whole; high levels of consumption were problematic for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Territorians; and that a broad range of strategies - including a component to address regional variation - were needed to address the problem.

The scond component found that a small 35 cent per litre levy on the sale of cask wine led to a significant reduction in sales of that beverage without a corresponding increase in sales of other beverages. Although the levy was subsequently declared illegal and was removed, the study demonstrated that taxation is an effective means of reducing alcohol consumption