Banned drinker order (BDO)

If you have a BDO, it means you are not allowed to purchase, possess or consume alcohol for the period of your order.

This includes buying takeaway alcohol.

You will also be on the Banned Drinker Register (BDR).

Who can issue a BDO

You can receive a BDO by:

• alcohol-related interactions with police
• the BDR registrar following a referral by an authorised person
• choice, through a self-referral to the BDR.

You can also be placed on the BDR through an alcohol restriction attached to a court or parole order.

What it means

If you purchase, possess or consume alcohol, you will be in breach of your BDO and your order may be extended.

If you breach a condition of a court or parole order the matter may be brought back before the relevant authority.

Secondary supply

If someone knows you're not allowed to have alcohol and gives it to you anyway, that person may also be charged with an offence.

From 11 December 2023, penalty for secondary supply is 100 penalty units ($17,600).

Get support and reduce your BDO

Get support and learn more about how to reduce your BDO.

Review of police-issued BDO

If you have a police issued BDO, contact the police if you:

• would like more information about your BDO or to get a copy
• do not believe you should have been given a BDO
• believe an administrative error has been made
• would like police to review the circumstances surrounding the making of your BDO.

Contact police about your BDO by:

• calling 08 8999 8600
• emailing police.bdo.enquiries@pfes.nt.gov.au.

Review of BDR registrar-issued BDO

You can get further information from the BDR office if you:

• are unsure why you were issued a BDO
• believe you were incorrectly placed on the BDR
• have been placed on income management by the BDR registrar.

You can also give permission for a representative to make enquiries on your behalf.

Contact the BDR office between 8am and 4:20pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays by :

• calling 1800 237 226
• emailing bdr.health@nt.gov.au.

Court imposed alcohol restrictions

If you have an alcohol restriction that is part of a court or parole order, it is a matter for that authority.

Contact the Northern Territory Local Courts or community corrections.

Challenging a BDO further

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your internal review by police or the BDR registrar, you can contact the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT).

Get the information sheet on NTCAT decision reviews PDF (349.0 KB).

NTCAT can investigate the ban and they may decide to:

• uphold the decision
• reduce your ban
• remove it.

If you have an alcohol restriction attached to a court or parole order, it is a matter for that authority and NTCAT can't assist.

To contact NTCAT, go to the NTCAT website.