‘Goon bag’ sales restricted in Geraldton after spike in alcohol-fuelled violence

Geraldton police are for the first time imposing temporary restrictions on the sale of “goon bags” in response to a spike in booze-fuelled violence. Under the five-day trial, the sale of 4L Fruity Lexia and Tawny Port wines has been banned until midnight Tuesday. A minimum price of $15 cask has been imposed on all other 4L cask wines and people will be limited to being able to buy one 2L cask wine per day. Geraldton police station officer-in-charge acting Sen. Sgt Stuart Gerreyn said the trial was the first of its kind in Geraldton and aimed at reducing alcohol-related crime. “We have had an increase in violence and anti-social behaviour along the foreshore, particularly near the cinemas and the basketball court,” he said. “There is no particular day of the week or time of day when this is happening, it is just basically from when the bottle shops open to when it gets dark. People are buying their goon bags, drinking them and going back and buying another one.” Sen. Sgt Gerreyn said if the trial was successful, police would look into making the restrictions permanent. “Other regions have their own issues with alcohol consumption in public places, but we would like to try get on top of it before it becomes a major issue for us,” he said. The restrictions do not apply to tourists passing through Geraldton who buy packaged alcohol for consumption outside of town. Exemptions also apply to mine site operators, pastoralists and others conducting business outside Geraldton who want to buy booze to be consumed out of town.