Iris Capital’s Todd Tavern liquor licence suspended, deemed ‘threat’ to Alice Springs community

The two busiest bottle shops in Alice Springs have been forced to shut their doors this weekend amid ongoing crime pressures and worsening rates of alcohol-fuelled violence.

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A snap, 48-hour suspension of the liquor licence of the Iris Capital-owned Todd Tavern was announced in a statement issued by NT Police late yesterday.

Under NT law, the police commissioner has the power to suspend licences for 48 hours in circumstances including emergencies and “threat[s] to public safety”.

“After extensive investigations into the responsible service of alcohol, police are satisfied that the actions of this licensee constitute an ongoing threat to public safety in the area,” Acting Commander Mark Grieve said in the statement.

NT Police say operations at the Todd Tavern represent an “ongoing threat” in the context of domestic violence and crime.(ABC News: Xavier Martin)

The ABC understands that a number of alleged incidents involving intoxicated customers at or near the hotel in the town’s CBD, including alleged domestic violence, were the basis for the intervention by police.

NT Police did not respond to a request for more information.

The police statement said “domestic violence, property crime, road incidents and antisocial behaviour” were symptoms of the “wide-ranging problem” of alcohol-related harm.

“The responsible service of alcohol is a legal requirement and police will hold businesses to account,” the statement said.

The Gap View Hotel is also barred from trading today as a sanction for flouting requirements of the Banned Drinkers’ Register (BDR), which blocks the sale of takeaway alcohol to people ordered onto the register.

Staff at Iris Capital’s Gap View Hotel failed to scan the BDR on almost 200 sales in one day.(ABC: Xavier Martin.)

It means no drive-through bottle shops will be operating in Alice Springs on Saturday.

Sydney-based hospitality venture Iris Capital, which bought both venues as well as four other pubs and the Alice Springs casino last year, was contacted for comment.

Alcohol involved in domestic violence attempted murder, ABC understands

The closures come as Alice Springs continues to grapple with very high rates of break-ins and property crime, some involving violence, as well as threats against workers and people in public places such as supermarkets.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton took to breakfast television to criticise Labor’s handling of the situation, following calls from local Mayor Matt Paterson for the army to be brought in to help.

The most serious instance of violence was the alleged attempted murder of a 39-year-old woman by her partner at a home in the suburb of Aruluen.

A 44-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder as well as breaching a domestic violence order.

The ABC understands heavy alcohol consumption was a factor in the alleged attack. 

NT Police statistics released yesterday show a 54 per cent increase in both domestic violence and alcohol-related assaults in Alice Springs over the past year.

The jurisdiction has the worst rates of domestic violence in the country, with excessive alcohol involved in a majority of homicides and serious assaults.

More restrictions announced by supermarket giant Coles

During the week the NT government praised alcohol retailers in Alice Springs, who they said had agreed to remove one-litre bottles of spirits from their shelves.

In response to questions from the ABC, a spokesperson for Coles said the company had decided to trial additional purchase limits as well.

They include:

The government again dismissed criticism this week of its handling of the end of Intervention-era alcohol bans, which police, local governments and Aboriginal health groups have linked to the current problems.

Asked if it was a mistake to reject calls for an opt-out transition period, Attorney-General Chansey Paech said: “I never regret walking away from racist policy.”

“Racist policy is not going to solve social issues in this town, it’s only going to perpetuate the issues,” he said.

“Community organisations that are critical of the repeal of Stronger Futures, and the Coalition government, knew about this cessation date for nine years and little was done.”

The end of Intervention-era laws, including blanket alcohol bans, is the focus of an ongoing federal parliamentary inquiry.

Labor MP Marion Scrymgour, whose electorate of Lingiari covers Alice Springs, told ABC Darwin the committee’s final report, due next month, could potentially recommend a reversal of the changes.

Posted 48m ago48 minutes agoFri 20 Jan 2023 at 10:43pm, updated 17m ago17 minutes agoFri 20 Jan 2023 at 11:14pm