Impacts of Northern Territory banned drinker register on police recorded youth assault

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionIn September 2017 the Northern Territory Government of Australia introduced a banned drinker register (BDR) to mitigate the high levels of alcohol‐related harm within the Northern Territory. The current study aimed to examine the impact of the Northern Territory BDR on youth (aged <18 years) using police recorded assault data.MethodsInterrupted time‐series models were used to assess monthly trends in assaults and alcohol‐related assaults perpetration and victimisation in the regions of Greater Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine between January 2014 and December 2019.ResultsExamining the three regions combined, after the re‐introduction of the BDR a significant step decrease in police recorded youth assault perpetration (β = −1.67) and a significant step increase in police recorded youth assault victimisation (β = 1.40) was identified. However, no significant effects were identified at the individual region level.Discussion and ConclusionsFindings suggest that restricting alcohol consumption in high‐risk adults through the BDR had a limited immediate effect in police recorded youth assaults. Individual level or contextual factors may have influenced both immediate and long‐term impacts of the BDR, and as such, future policy design needs to support and empower community leaders across the policy development and implementation process. A wider evaluation of the BDR currently underway may provide additional understanding behind the mechanisms that underpin alcohol‐related harm in the Northern Territory.