VICTORIA is losing the battle against alcohol-fuelled violence and harm, a damning new report has revealed.
The Auditor-General has found alcohol misuse costs the state more than $4 billion every year, despite the government throwing millions of dollars to tackle the problem.
The Effectiveness of Justice Strategies in Preventing and Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm report details shortcomings in tackling a tripling of alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and 49 per cent spike in alcohol-related assaults across Melbourne.
Since 1998, the number of Victorian liquor licences has more than doubled to 19,000.
Victoria Police statistics reveal assaults in Brimbank increased by almost 10 per cent in the past year. There were 758 assaults from April 2011-March 2012, compared to 723 the previous year.
According to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, there are 63 packaged liquor outlets in Brimbank, 19 in Sunshine.
The Weekly reported in December that Melbourne’s CBD had the most takeaway booze, followed by Melton and Sunshine.
Brimbank also has the second-highest rate of socio-economic disadvantage in Melbourne.
Women’s Health West family violence manager Jacky Tucker said there was a strong relationship between alcohol abuse and violence, particularly against women and children.
Acting Auditor-General Dr Peter Frost found plans to reduce harm were hampered by a lack of government policy position, inconsistent liquor licensing laws and lack of targeted enforcement.
