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Alcohol restrictions in Queensland communities

Palm Island

Restricted area

The Palm Island restricted area is the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire which incorporates 10 of the 13 islands and includes all public and private places on these islands.

The group of islands in the Palm Island Shire Council area are Fantome (Eumilli), Curacoa (Noogoo), Barber (Boodthean), Esk (Soopun), Falcon (Carbooroo), Eclipse (Garoogubbee), Brisk (Culgarool), Fly, Havannah and Great Palm.

The restricted area also includes all island foreshores to the low water mark, the Palm Island Jetty and the Palm Island Airport.

Alcohol restrictions

The maximum amount of alcohol a person can carry in the restricted area is:

  • 11.25 litres of any liquor with an alcohol concentration of less than 4%.

This amount is per person on foot, or per vehicle, boat or aircraft regardless of the number of people in it. However, the barge company and most plane companies do not allow anyone to bring alcohol on board, including in their luggage or freight.

The Palm Island ferry is not subject to the alcohol restrictions but for journeys to Palm Island the ferry company requires any alcohol brought on board from the mainland to be locked away for the duration of the trip. When stepping onto the Palm Island jetty from the ferry, a person must not have more alcohol than is allowed under the restrictions.

There is one licensed premises in the restricted area known as the Coolgaree Bay Sports Bar and Bistro, where alcohol can only be sold for on-premises or off-premises consumption to a patron with a valid membership card. Takeaway sales must be made in accordance with the licence conditions and the carriage limit.

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:

  1. Aurukun
  2. Cherbourg
  3. Doomadgee
  4. Hope Vale
  5. Kowanyama
  6. Lockhart River
  7. Mapoon
  8. Mornington Island
  9. Napranum
  10. Northern Peninsula Area
  11. Palm Island
  12. Pormpuraaw
  13. Woorabinda
  14. Wujal Wujal
  15. Yarrabah

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Last updated:
2 July 2024
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