Everything you need to know about the Pilbara Banned Drinkers Register

The State Government last week announced the starting date for the Pilbara Banned Drinkers Register and in the process perhaps delivered more questions than answers, so we’ve set out to clear up the confusion. What is the BDR? The Banned Drinkers Register is a State Government initiative, which will aim to limit alcohol-related harm by ensuring problem drinkers are not able to purchase takeaway liquor in the Pilbara. When does the BDR start? The trial will launch throughout Pilbara from December 1. How long will the trial run for? The trial is expected to run for two years and be evaluated by the University of WA Public Policy Institute. Who will run the BDR? The WA Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries will administer the program. WA company Scantek will supply the technology for the program. Local bottle shops will be required to have a Scantek ID scanner. How will someone be added to the BDR? There will be three main avenues in which people would be added to the BDR. The Director of Liquor Licensing will have the power to place someone on the register through a prohibition order. The Police Commissioner will have the power to put someone on the list through a barring notice. People can voluntarily put themselves on the list — thought to be an option for those who may be compelled by a banned drinker to supply alcohol. What about people who don’t have any form of ID? Racing and Gambling Minister Paul Papalia said details around issuing and ensuring everyone had ID would be resolved in the coming months. “The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries will be working with other government agencies and service providers throughout the Pilbara to address this issue,” he said. “This work will help ensure that everyone who wants to buy takeaway alcohol has opportunities to get the identification required before the commencement of the BDR trial. “Once the trial commences, people who do not have identification will not be able to purchase takeaway alcohol.” How does the technology alert the liquor store of a ban? Liquor store staff will be alerted at the point of sale when an identified problem drinker attempts to purchase liquor. The BDR technology will assess a person’s identification to determine if they are on the register, with a visual indicator to alert staff if they are a banned drinker. How is the BDR different from the Kimberley TAMS? The takeaway alcohol management system did not provide for bans on people who were classified as “problem drinkers”. Instead, the TAMS machines worked by scanning a person’s ID and recording all alcohol purchases for 24 hours to ensure no one purchased more than what was permitted through the region’s restrictions. Were there problems with the TAMS system? Yes, there were a few issues with the TAMS when first introduced in the Kimberley in 2015. Due to users’ details being stored on a secure cloud environment, there were issues when there was poor internet connectivity. Purchases could not be checked, therefore it is believed some people were able to flout restrictions during such times. There were also several reports of faulty TAMS machines in places with harsh climates. How will personal data be stored? Identification will be scanned by the device and compared remotely to information on the register, which is administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. Personal information relating to people on the BDR will remain confidential and no records will be kept by licensees about the purchaser, what they purchase or if they are refused. The police get called to a house party where they discover someone on the BDR, what would happen? Racing and Gambling Minister Paul Papalia would not provide a clear answer to this question. “The BDR prevents people on the register from purchasing takeaway alcohol,” he said. Does this mean bottle shops will allow Sunday trade for those not on the register? The BDR trial will have no impact on restrictions that are currently in place.