Retail Drinks Australia is ensuring liquor stores across the country are Safe to Serve this festive season, launching a national initiative to better protect its 75,000 strong workforce.

Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of all robberies in Australia occur within the retail industry with more than half of these (54 per cent) armed robberies. Liquor is the most frequently reported stolen item, as high as 37 per cent of all retail theft incidents in some jurisdictions.

Retail workers are also contending with rising levels of violence. Assaults within the retail industry have nearly doubled in recent years, increasing by 47 per cent.

To ensure this pattern doesn’t continue, Retail Drinks has today launched the ‘Safe to Serve’ initiative bringing together a coalition of leading industry voices, businesses and government entities to improve safety at retail liquor outlets through education, awareness and advocacy.

Retail Drinks Chief Executive Officer, Micheal Waters, said the initiative is about protecting both workers and customers to ensure liquor stores remain safe, especially during the busy Christmas and summer periods.

“We know criminals are increasingly targeting our liquor stores meaning the staff in our industry are constantly at risk. It’s a challenge we can no longer ignore which is why are we launching Safe to Serve,” said Mr Waters.

“Christmas is one of our busiest periods and that brings an increased risk of violence and abuse for our staff.”

“Robberies, violence and assault can have a lasting impact on anyone including a traumatic effect on bystanders and witnesses which is why Safe to Serve is targeted at keeping not only our staff but our customers safe.”

“We look forward to working closely with our members, partners, and stakeholders to make our vision of a safer and more responsible retail liquor industry a reality.”

As part of the initiative, Retail Drinks has developed an online toolkit which will be made available to liquor stores across the country. This comprehensive resource includes information on essential topics like working with local police, improving security measures and will teach staff within the industry how to apply de-escalation principles.

The toolkit also contains in-store posters and advertising materials for liquor store owners to display, encouraging responsible behaviour among customers and to staff.

“Staff working within the retail liquor industry experience a heightened risk of violence and assault due our industry’s late operating hours, cash handling and the influence of alcohol,” said Mr Waters.

“We want to do everything we can to ensure our staff are supported and this toolkit is just one of the ways we can help all staff and customers become aware of the risks within the industry.”

For more information on the campaign or to download the online toolkit please visit the Retail Drinks website at https://www.retaildrinks.org.au/