A Prescription for Change Why Alcohol Regulation Needs a Medical Lens

The Physician Diagnose

Every drop of alcohol consumed is neurotoxic. Every single drop. As a medical doctor, I look at the state of our society and I see a patient in crisis. If alcohol were discovered today and we sought permission to legalise it in our state, the application would be rejected immediately as a toxic substance. Yet, here we are in Parliament, discussing how to tweak the rules around its sale.

The data is confronting. Since 2021, approximately 9,000 Australian deaths have been attributed to alcohol. For every one of those deaths, there are nearly 4,000 problematic drinkers and 48 hospitalisations. The financial cost to our nation is roughly $75 billion annually. To put that in perspective, it is like funding an AUKUS agreement every five years. It is a staggering burden on our health system, our economy, and our families.

The Human Cost of Status Quo

This is not just about economics: it is about the visceral impact on our communities. In the Kimberley, 60 percent of infants are born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. These are children starting life with altered brain function, leading to a cycle of developmental issues, reduced educational outcomes, and contact with the justice system. We are debating whether to sell beer on Good Friday while communities are struggling to keep their heads above water.

The current system is failing those who need help most. When a patient comes to my clinic with a chronic alcohol problem, I often cannot find them a rehabilitation bed. The waiting lists are long, and the support is minimal. Telling someone to simply drink less or giving them a packet of pills is not a cure. It is a plaster on a wound that requires deep, structural surgery.

I am working hard to bring these evidence-based perspectives to the fore, and I would love for you to join our community of forward-thinkers. Please take a moment to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more updates from inside the House.

A New Path Forward

While I support the Liquor Control Amendment Bill 2025 because it reduces unnecessary red tape, we must be honest about what it will not do. It will not fix the underlying trauma that drives addiction. It will not stop the domestic violence that is so often fueled by a skinful of booze. Prohibition is not the answer either: we know from history that banning substances only empowers criminals and creates more danger.

The real solution lies in substitution and health-led policy. I see patients who have replaced heavy alcohol use with prescribed medical cannabis for their PTSD or chronic pain. The transformation is remarkable. Their quality of life improves, their families are safer, and they stop being a statistic in our emergency departments. Yet, our laws continue to treat alcohol as a normal consumer good while making safer alternatives difficult to access.

We need to invest in harm minimisation, not just more bureaucracy. We need culturally safe solutions and real investment in mental health. We must rethink the very premise of how we regulate toxins in our society if we want a healthier, safer future for our children. You can read my full comments on the Liquor Control Amendment Bill 2025 here. If you believe it is time for a science-first approach to drug law, I invite you to join Legalise Cannabis WA today.