Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28764774›Full record

ArticleBMC research notes2017

'Sly grog' and 'homebrew': a qualitative examination of illicit alcohol and some of its impacts on Indigenous communities with alcohol restrictions in regional and remote Queensland (Australia).

Michelle S Fitts, Jan Robertson, Simon Towle, Chris M Doran, Robyn McDermott, Adrian Miller, Stephen Margolis, Valmae Ypinazar, Alan R Clough

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC research notes, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 23% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
  3. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Michelle S FittsCollege of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Jan RobertsonCollege of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, School of Nursing, Nutrition & Midwifery, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.
Simon TowleCommunity-based Health Promotion and Prevention Studies Group, College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, James Cook University (Cairns Campus), PO Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.
Chris M DoranHunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Locked Bag 1000, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.
Robyn McDermottCentre for Chronic Disease Prevention, Faculty of Medicine, Health & Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.
Adrian MillerIndigenous Health, Indigenous Research Network, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia.
Stephen MargolisRoyal Flying Doctor Service, Faculty of Medicine, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, 4122, Australia.
Valmae YpinazarGriffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, 4122, Australia.
Alan R CloughCommunity-based Health Promotion and Prevention Studies Group, College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, James Cook University (Cairns Campus), PO Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia. alan.clough@jcu.edu.au.
James Cook University · AUGriffith University · AUHunter Medical Research Institute · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIndigenous communities in Queensland (Australia) have been subject to Alcohol Management Plans since 2002/03, with significant penalties for breaching restrictions. 'Sly grog' and 'homebrew' provide access to alcohol despite restrictions. This paper describes how this alcohol is made available and the risks and impacts involved. In affected towns and communities across a large area of rural and remote Queensland, interviews and focus groups documented experiences and views of 255 long-standing community members and service providers. Using an inductive framework, transcribed interviews were analysed to identify supply mechanisms, community and service provider responses and impacts experienced.

results'Homebrew' was reportedly manufactured in just a few localities, in locally-specific forms bringing locally-specific harms. However, 'sly grog' sourced from licensed premises located long distances from communities, is a widespread concern across the region. 'Sly grog' sellers circumvent retailers' takeaway liquor license conditions, stockpile alcohol outside restricted areas, send hoax messages to divert enforcement and take extraordinary risks to avoid apprehension. Police face significant challenges to enforce restrictions. On-selling of 'sly grog' appears more common in remote communities with total prohibition. Despite different motives for involvement in an illicit trade 'sly grog' consumers and sellers receive similar penalties.

conclusionsThere is a need for: (a) a more sophisticated regional approach to managing takeaway alcohol sales from licensed suppliers, (b) targeted penalties for 'sly grog' sellers that reflect its significant community impact,

Indexed as

AdultAlcohol DrinkingAlcoholic BeveragesCommerceCriminal BehaviorFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPublic PolicyQueenslandRural PopulationAlcoholAlcohol supply controlsIndigenous Australia

Identifiers

PMID28764774
PMCPMC5540517
OpenAlexW2740225403

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.