Alcohol and Other Drugs Draft Policy

Consultation has concluded

New Year's Eve Alcohol Free fireworks

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey. This feedback will be used to report back to Council on any required amendments.


Maribyrnong City Council has a strong history of taking action on the harms caused by misuse of alcohol and other drugs. Previous strategies have adopted a harm minimisation approach and acknowledged that drug misuse is a very complex issue that disproportionally affects the most marginalised in our community. This policy acknowledges that licensed venues and a night time economy make a positive contribution to the municipality and that this can be supported alongside efforts to reduce the harms caused by alcohol misuse.

Growth, gentrification and imminent residential development, combined with changing patterns of alcohol and other drug use over the last decade, has prompted Council to research the local policy context and re-affirm its position on managing alcohol and other drugs within the municipality. The new Draft Policy seeks to guide Council’s response in the management of harms caused by the misuse of alcohol and other drugs (AOD).

The new Policy has been developed following extensive research and stakeholder consultation and Council is now inviting public contributions via a short survey below. The survey will be open until 14 November.

The full Draft Policy as well as the Discussion Paper and the Framework for Action 2017 are accessible in the document library on the right. You can also check out the frequently asked questions if you have queries about the Policy.

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey. This feedback will be used to report back to Council on any required amendments.


Maribyrnong City Council has a strong history of taking action on the harms caused by misuse of alcohol and other drugs. Previous strategies have adopted a harm minimisation approach and acknowledged that drug misuse is a very complex issue that disproportionally affects the most marginalised in our community. This policy acknowledges that licensed venues and a night time economy make a positive contribution to the municipality and that this can be supported alongside efforts to reduce the harms caused by alcohol misuse.

Growth, gentrification and imminent residential development, combined with changing patterns of alcohol and other drug use over the last decade, has prompted Council to research the local policy context and re-affirm its position on managing alcohol and other drugs within the municipality. The new Draft Policy seeks to guide Council’s response in the management of harms caused by the misuse of alcohol and other drugs (AOD).

The new Policy has been developed following extensive research and stakeholder consultation and Council is now inviting public contributions via a short survey below. The survey will be open until 14 November.

The full Draft Policy as well as the Discussion Paper and the Framework for Action 2017 are accessible in the document library on the right. You can also check out the frequently asked questions if you have queries about the Policy.