Alcohol restrictions in Queensland communities
Cherbourg
You are not allowed to drink alcohol in a public place in Queensland, unless the area is an approved wet area.
Restricted area
The Cherbourg restricted area is the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire including all public and private places. This includes the banks of the Barambah Creek bounding the community and the waterway where it passes through Cherbourg.
Alcohol restrictions
The maximum amount of alcohol that a person can carry in Cherbourg Shire is:
- 11.25 litres (1 carton of 30 x 375ml cans) of light or mid-strength beer with less than 4% of alcohol concentration
- no wine and no spirits.
This amount is per person on foot or per vehicle, boat or aircraft regardless of the number of people in it. Light or mid-strength beer is the only type of alcohol allowed in your home.
Sly grog
It is illegal to sell alcohol without a licence or permit (sly grog) in Queensland. Penalties apply.
Phone the confidential Sly Grog Hotline on 1800 500 815 to report incidents of sly grog.
Penalties
Maximum penalties for possessing illegal alcohol in the restricted area are:
- first offence 375 penalty units (currently $60,487)
- second offence 525 penalty units (currently $84,682) or 6 months imprisonment
- third or subsequent offence 750 penalty units (currently $120,975) or 18 months imprisonment.
Vehicles found carrying alcohol above the set quantity in the restricted area may be confiscated.
It is also an offence to attempt to bring alcohol above the set quantity into the restricted area. The maximum is 375 penalty units (currently $60,487).
The maximum penalty for possessing alcohol in a dry place is 19 penalty units (currently $3,064).
These penalties apply to all people living in, travelling through, visiting or working in the restricted area.
The penalty unit from 1 July 2024 is $161.30.
In this guide:
- Aurukun
- Cherbourg
- Doomadgee
- Hope Vale
- Kowanyama
- Lockhart River
- Mapoon
- Mornington Island
- Napranum
- Northern Peninsula Area
- Palm Island
- Pormpuraaw
- Woorabinda
- Wujal Wujal
- Yarrabah