Review sale of cheap liquor: St John

ST John Ambulance has expressed concerned over the misuse of strong, cheap alcohol sold in the National Capital District (NCD).
Chief executive officer Matt Cannon said from a total of 36 cases and incidents that his team had attended at New Years’ Eve, half of those were trauma cases – results of alcohol-related violence.
“We are greatly concerned about the misuse of high-strength, cheap alcohol,” he told The National.
“We support the need for an urgent review into the sale of high-strength cheap liquor in NCD.”
Cannon said St John was out in force during the New Year celebrations with six ambulance units on the road and more than 28 officers, paramedics and clinical crew on duty from 6pm to 6am at its headquarters at 3-Mile.
“Eighty-four per cent of the cases we attended on New Year’s Eve were trauma.
“(The) majority of the incidents happened between 12.30am and 2am.
“St John has always been busy with emergency operations in Port Moresby and the New Year’s Eve and Day operations were no different.
“It is concerning that residents are not taking heed when it comes to drinking responsibly and this has resulted in a number of alcohol-related violence and stabbing cases we have attended to during the New Year operations.”
According to police reports, there appears to be a link between consumption of high-strength liquor and violent incidents.