Banned Drinker Register (BDR)

If you're on the Banned Drinker Register (BDR), you are not allowed to buy, keep or drink alcohol in the Northern Territory (NT) for the duration of your ban. This includes takeaway alcohol.

How it works

Anyone who wants to buy takeaway alcohol in the NT must show an approved form of ID.

This is when you buy alcohol from a:

• corner store
• supermarket liquor store
• bottle shop or drive through.

Staff will use your ID to see if you're on the BDR.

In some regions of the NT, there are rules on how much takeaway alcohol you can buy.

If you're on the BDR or you've reached your purchase limit, you won't be allowed to buy alcohol from any store.

How you get on the BDR

If you're on the BDR, it means:

• you have been issued a banned drinker order (BDO) or
• you're on a court or parole order prohibiting you from purchasing, possessing or consuming alcohol.

There are 3 pathways to the BDR:

• the police
• the court and parole
• the BDR registrar by referral from:
  • yourself
  • an authorised person
  • family, carer or guardian referral.

Police pathways

The police must issue a BDO for the following:

• 2 low-range drink driving offences or a single mid-range or high-range drink driving offence
• any other alcohol-related offence
• being the named defendant in a police-issued domestic violence order (DVO) where alcohol was a factor
• the issuing of an alcohol-related infringement notice
• being placed into protective custody for alcohol intoxication
• consuming alcohol in a prohibited public place
• being issued with a banning notice.

Court and parole board pathways

Any court or parole order with an alcohol prohibition condition that restricts the purchase, possession or consumption of alcohol.

Examples include conditions of:

• court ordered bail
• a suspended sentence or good behaviour bond
• a parole order.

BDR registrar

The registrar makes a determination after reviewing all evidence as to whether a person should be on the BDR.

Referrals are accepted from authorised persons, including:

• health professionals, registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (other than a student)
• child protection workers
• social workers
• public housing safety officers
• police
• sobering-up shelter team leaders
• Aboriginal health workers
• Australian Counselling Association level 4 counsellors.

Read more about authorised person referrals.

The registrar can also accept referrals from:

• you, for a self-referral
• family members
• carers
• appointed guardians.

Read more about making a referral for yourself or for someone else.

How long it is for

How long you are on the BDR depends on:

• why you are on the BDR
• whether you have breached a condition of your BDO
• if you choose to complete a therapeutic support program to reduce your BDO.

Police-issued

From 11 December 2023, police must issue BDOs in certain circumstances.

The change includes the introduction of a 7-day BDO. This is when you:

• are taken into alcohol-related protective custody
• get an alcohol-related infringement notice
• get issued with a banning notice
• consume alcohol in a prohibited public place.

Once you have had 2 occurrences of any of the above (can be a combination), future occurrences will result in a 3-month police-issued BDO.

This could be extended further if you're found purchasing, possessing or consuming alcohol while your BDO is in force, possibly leading to an additional 6 or 12 months on the BDR.

The police must issue a 3-month BDO for:

• a qualifying alcohol-related offence, such as medium-range drink driving
• being the named defendant in a police-issued DVO where alcohol was a factor
• having already had (since 11 December 2023) 2 separate BDOs for:
  • being taken into protective custody
  • being issued with an alcohol-related infringement or banning notice
  • consuming alcohol in a prohibited public place.

The police can continue to extend your BDO by a period of 3, 6 or 12 months (depending on the current duration of your BDO) if you are found to purchase, possess or consume alcohol.

Court and parole board-issued

A ban resulting from an alcohol prohibition in a court order or a parole order is for the period that is set in your specific order.

BDR registrar-issued

Upon application by an authorised person, self-referral, family, carer or guardian, the registrar can make a determination to approve a BDO for:

• 3 months
• 6 months
• 12 months.

Reducing your ban

If you're on a BDO issued by police or the registrar, you can apply to the BDR registrar to reduce or revoke the remaining period of your ban.

You will need to show proof that you have completed a therapeutic support program.

Find out how to reduce your ban.

Requesting a review

Get more information about your BDO and how to have a decision reviewed.

Reports and evaluations

To find evaluations and monthly statistical information about the BDR, go to the NT Health website.

Contact

You can contact the BDR office between 8am and 4:20pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays:

• call 1800 237 226
• email bdr.health@nt.gov.au.

BDR scanner technical helpdesk

For licensed premises with or seeking BDR scanners, call the 24/7 helpdesk via 1800 786 099.