Public Intoxication Decriminalised In Victoria
7th of November Tuesday
Little did I know that it was against the law to be suspected of public drunkenness in Victoria.
I have never been arrested or stopped due to that law, but I am sure I have been a suspect.
Even more of a problem was that once you were arrested you had a good chance of being thrown in the jailhouse until you sobered up.
The law change in Victoria is welcome news for groups that have been the most impacted by public intoxication laws, including:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
people experiencing homelessness
multicultural communities
If we can avoid more deaths in custody for people at risk that will be a good place to start.
Removing public drunkenness from a legal issue to a health and mental health concern has to be better for everyone. Yes?
There are some gaps.
With few sobering-up centres, hospitals stretched and mental health support in short supply, decriminalisation faces some hurdles.
For decriminalisation to be effective, we need to ensure:
first responders are health or community service organisations, supported by dedicated outreach services.
there are enough sobering up centres, with a wide range of transport options available to take people to these centres
services are culturally safe and able to offer the person short-term care and options for long-term support if the person needs and wants it
police powers are restricted so that an intoxicated person can only be arrested by police if they’re a serious threat to harming themselves or others.5,7
The decriminalisation of public intoxication needs to be supported with a strong investment in health and welfare services so that the changes are effective.
A US study found every dollar spent on drug and alcohol treatment saves the community $7 by reducing use and criminal behaviour, and improving health, wellbeing, and participation in the community and employment.
Collingwood and St. Kilda are the only 2 sobering-up locations in Victoria.
Based on alcohol intake within Australia, we are going to need more of them.
The Melbourne Cup used to be the event that stopped the nation.
It is very ironic that this decriminalisation takes effect on the day when this horse race now divides a nation.
The irony is that on Melbourne Cup Day you only have to turn on the TV post-race and the news coverage to see people tumbling from their heels and vomiting in hats and eskies.
I do believe this is a positive step to avoid more deaths in custody.
Let’s avoid more deaths on the race track by saying “No To The Cup”.
And if you are still going to drink and party for a horse race, please mind your intake.
Be safe. You only have so many brain cells and only one life.
