CATH NEWS REPORT:
"Dry Zone" alcohol prohibition sign near Brighton Jetty, by Xaragma on Fotothing
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A dry zone policy in Adelaide has been described as racist, with welfare leaders saying it should be scrapped because it doesn't deal with the public-drinking issue, according to a report on AdelaideNow.
"The council should strongly consider the removal of the dry zone and seek better ways to connect with and support vulnerable people in the city," Monsignor Cappo said.Social Inclusion Commissioner Monsignor David Cappo said the Adelaide central business district dry zone was the equivalent of "funnelling Aboriginal people into the justice system".
He said the city dry zone could also shift the problem elsewhere, away from the services and support available in the city.
"We must engage with vulnerable people and support them," he said. "There should be integrated services working for them, including housing, mental health, and drug and alcohol services."
Last financial year, police caught 1731 people in possession of alcohol and 889 people drinking alcohol in Adelaide's dry area.
This compared to 1080 and 558 offences respectively in 2008-09 and was about a four-fold increase on 457 and 242 offences in 2004-05. Police attribute this to factors including increased police activity.
Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless Persons chair Sister Janet Mead said: "The dry-area policy mostly affects and unfairly targets Aboriginal people, who are driven away from their traditional meeting grounds. It is racist."
The current dry area that bans drinking alcohol on city streets and in the squares expires in October 2011. The new city council must apply to the State Government for an extension by June 30.
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