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Drowning in Alcohol, Aborigines Split Over Booze Ban

Some see restrictions as infringement on hard-won rights

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 5, 2009 11:09 AM CDT
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(Newser) – As the Australian government cracks down on alcohol in Aboriginal areas, some communities are taking matters into their own hands, instituting local restrictions on booze, the New York Times reports. Some indigenous leaders see alcohol as a blight on their communities, fueling child abuse and domestic violence. But others see the rules as a reminder of past government suppression.

“We fought so long and hard for our rights to be able to say this and do that,” says a man who works with Aboriginal youth. “Basically, for us to just hand those rights back, I thought, ‘Come on, surely, there is an in-between.’ ” But “before alcohol,” notes an advocate for alcohol restriction, “we had a proud race of people, very together people. Then alcohol just took over.”

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, left in front, is surrounded by Aboriginal well wishers on the first day of Parliament in Canberra on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, left in front, is surrounded by Aboriginal well wishers on the first day of Parliament in Canberra on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008.   (AP Photo/Mark Graham)
In this photo taken on June 1, 2009, an aboriginal boy stands outside a store in the remote outback town of Wadeye in the Northern Territory, Australia.
In this photo taken on June 1, 2009, an aboriginal boy stands outside a store in the remote outback town of Wadeye in the Northern Territory, Australia.   (AP Photo/Kristen Gelineau)
In this photo taken on June 1, 2009, an aboriginal man drinks a beverage outside a store in the remote outback town of Wadeye in the Northern Territory, Australia.
In this photo taken on June 1, 2009, an aboriginal man drinks a beverage outside a store in the remote outback town of Wadeye in the Northern Territory, Australia.   (AP Photo/Kristen Gelineau)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
riffran
Jul 6, 2009 7:51 AM CDT
meaning the genetic issue and intolerance to alcohol isues..........."fillet mignon intolerance?????"....oh armywife....say it aint so.....lol...all kidding aside, that is actually an interesting thing you described, I hope you are ok now......(I have a good carne guisada recipe for ya if you are......:)
riffran
Jul 6, 2009 7:32 AM CDT
well alright DOC!....somebody got it right...
Rob
Jul 6, 2009 3:40 AM CDT
If you feel this way you should move back to wherever your people came from. Bye bye and good riddence.

 
Australia • alcohol • alcoholism • Aborigines • alcohol abuse • domestic violence • restrictions

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