Frequently asked questions
Who can I contact with a question about the BDR?
You can contact the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries with any questions about the banned drinkers register by email or phone on:
Email BDR@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
Telephone 0448 359 758 or 0448 359 757
What is a banned drinkers register?
A banned drinkers register or BDR, is a list of people who are prohibited from purchasing takeaway alcohol because they have either voluntarily elected to be on the BDR, or they are subject to a current Prohibition Order or Barring Notice.
How do I get on the BDR?
People who are subject to a current Prohibition Order or Barring Notice are placed on the BDR.
People can also volunteer to be placed on the BDR.
Voluntary applications will require a person to provide their name, photograph, date of birth, address and contact phone number to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries via BDR@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
How do I get off the BDR?
People are automatically removed from the BDR once their prohibition order or barring notice expires. People who are voluntarily on the BDR can also apply to be removed which will take approximately two working days.
Requests to remove a voluntary placement on the BDR will require a person to provide their name, photograph, date of birth, address and contact phone number to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries via BDR@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
What is a Prohibition Order and a Barring Notice?
- Prohibition Order
- issued by the Director of Liquor Licensing on application by the Commissioner of Police (Part 5A of the Liquor Control Act 1988).
- Barring Notice
- issued by the Commissioner of Police (or Delegate) (s. 115AA or the Liquor Control Act 1988).
How does a licensee check if a person is on the BDR?
The BDR uses technology provided by the WA company Scantek to compare details from a scanned photo ID with details on the BDR. Scantek equipment communication is securely encrypted with customer information managed in accordance with the Australian Privacy
Principles and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
What happens if a person is on the BDR and tries to buy takeaway alcohol?
If a person is on the BDR the retail staff are alerted and cannot complete the sale.
Is identification required to purchase takeaway alcohol?
Yes, from 1 December, 2020 everyone who wants to buy takeaway alcohol in the Pilbara must produce an approved and scannable form of ID.
What are approved/accepted forms of ID?
Current approved forms of identification are:
- all Australian Proof of Age Cards (includes WA Photo Card and Australia Post Keypass)
- all Australian drivers licences (or international drivers licences in English showing name, date of birth and photo)
- all Australian or international passports (ICAO standard).
What happens if a person doesn’t have ID?
From 1 December, 2020 everyone will be asked to provide an approved form of identification every time they purchase take-away liquor in the Pilbara region. If you do not have approved identification you will be informed that from 4 January 2021 you will
not be able to purchase take-away liquor without producing an approved form of identification.
There are no exemptions to the requirement to produce identification.
How can I get approved identification?
You can apply for identification in person at a Regional Department of Transport (DOT) centre or agent. You will need to supply a combination of five (5) original identity documents to verify your full name, date of birth and current residential address.
You can contact a Department of Transport Licensing Centre for a full list of suitable identity documents or for further information on how to apply for photo ID.
If you are registered with the Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation (AAC) they may be able to assist you with obtaining identification.
What if I show up on the BDR and I am not meant to?
All licensees will have access to photos of persons on the BDR and the department will have a seven day a week helpline to resolve issues as they arise. Contact details for BDR enquires are BDR@dlgsc.wa.gov.au or 0448 359 758 or 0448 359 757.
Why is the State Government doing this?
The BDR is intended to be an additional mechanism to reduce alcohol related harm in the community. Should the trial prove to be successful, pathways onto the BDR may be expanded.
Will the BDR limit the amount of alcohol I can purchase?
The BDR will have no impact on any existing liquor restrictions that may be in place. The BDR only prohibits the purchase of takeaway liquor for people who are recorded on the BDR.
What is the difference between a BDR and a Takeaway Alcohol Management System (TAMS)?
A TAMS monitors the amount and type of alcohol purchased by any person in a day to ensure that they do not purchase above limits imposed by restrictions. A TAMS is only used in conjunction with existing restrictions and operates in a similar manner to the BDR with a requirement for identification to be scanned. If a TAMS is in operation, retail staff are required to record the amount and type of liquor purchased. Licensed premises are linked
by the system which stops people shopping around to buy more than they are permitted.