Meet the Pastor tackling Aboriginal alcohol abuse

By Katrina RoeMonday 11 Jul 2011Hope MorningsSocial JusticeReading Time: 1 minute

The problem of alcohol abuse among Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory is so widespread and so devestating, it could almost seem like an insurmountable problem.

But a growing coalition of concerned citizens is starting to have an impact.  Pastor Basil Schild, from the Lutheran church is one of those who decided to act.  He wrote letters to the major supermarkets and liquor producers.  To his surprise, his letter touched the Managing Director of Coles who decided to change the company’s alchohol policy.

Coles agreed to set a floor price for alcohol to stop the flood of cheap liquor into Alice Springs.  Since then, a number of other retailers followed suit.  And while there’s been widespread support from the local people, the Alice Springs town council is not happy about the decision. 

Listen Now – Pastor Basil Schild explains the havoc alcohol is wreaking in Aboriginal communities and why he felt he just had to do something about it.