Alcohol restrictions in Queensland communities
Doomadgee
You are not allowed to drink alcohol in a public place in Queensland, unless the area is an approved wet area.
Restricted area
The Doomadgee restricted area is the Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire including all public and private places. This includes both banks and the bed of the Nicholson River where it is next to the community area.
The restricted area does not include Old Doomadgee.
The Savannah Way and Doomadgee Roadhouse in Doomadgee are specified roads/facilities where a bona fide traveller exemption may be applicable for people travelling through the restricted area.
Alcohol restrictions
The maximum amount of alcohol that a person can have in the restricted area is:
- 22.5 litres (2 cartons 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.
No homebrew and homebrew equipment is allowed in the restricted area.
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).
A maximum of 190 penalty units (currently $30,647) will apply to offenders who:
- possess a homebrew kit or a component of a homebrew kit
- possess equipment or a component of equipment that is being used or has been used to brew alcohol
- possess homebrew concentrate
- supply homemade alcohol to another person in the restricted area.
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