Public drunkenness will no longer be a crime in Victoria from Tuesday onwards, with the change coming into effect on the same day as this year’s Melbourne Cup.
The law reform has been years in the making despite the odd timing, with a high-profile death in custody of Aboriginal woman Tanya Day in 2017 prompting reinvigorated campaigns to decriminalise public intoxication. It is believed the law disproportionately impacted Indigenous Australians.
The state now plans to adopt a more health-led approach to the issue rather than a criminal justice one.
