CANBERRA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Northern Territory (NT) has flagged radical alcohol reforms to combat abuse of the substance within the region.
Michael Gunner, chief minister of the NT, on Thursday confirmed that his government would support the "once in a generation" reforms suggested by NT chief justice Trevor Riley.
Riley made 220 recommendations including introducing drinking limits for passengers on boats, introducing a floor price for alcohol and ushering in a moratorium on takeaway liquor licenses while the changes are adopted.
The floor price would see a minimum cost of 1.2 U.S. dollars per standard drink established in the territory.
Of Riley's findings, a ban on the sale of takeaway alcohol on Sunday is the only recommendation the government rejected.
Gunner said that alcohol abuse had been a problem in NT for decades and is costing taxpayers more than 500 million U.S. dollars annually.
"We've got to burn it to the ground and start again," Gannon told reporters on Thursday evening.
"We do accept a generational change that is essentially deleting and replacing the Liquor Act with a brand new act."
Gunner's government will also abandon a controversial policy that would outlaw any liquor shop greater than 400--square--meters in size.
The Northern Territory has the highest rate of alcohol consumption than anywhere in the world, Attorney--General (AG) Natasha Fyles said.
"It is time that the Northern Territory gets rid of the tag of being an alcohol--fuelled community," she said.
