The Alcohol Action in Rural Communities (AARC) project will see local residents join with police, council and licensees in targeting crime influenced by booze.

It comes after AARC statistics revealed a spike of malicious damage and assaults during this time of year in the past.

“This weekend accounted for an average of 2.5 incidents of alcohol-related malicious damage and assaults over seven years (2001-2007),” said AARC research officer, Stephanie Love.

The average is two incidents, while for the June long weekend it is 1.1.

Mayor Gary Poidevin said the initiative was a proactive approach to tackling alcohol-related issues in the community.

He has written to hotels, clubs and bottle shops in Corowa requesting them to be extra vigilant in their service of alcohol and to actively liaise with police.

“It’s important the community is aware of the high rates of alcohol-related crime that have typically occurred on this weekend,” he said.

“So if you are drinking this weekend, it is important that you take responsibility for your safety and the safety of others.”

Corowa Sen-Constable Simon Steel said there would be additional high visibility policing in the town tonight and tomorrow night.

“We will be prioritising high visibility this weekend in and around licensed premises and alcohol-free and prohibited zones,” he said.

“I stress that it is important that Corowa residents who do decide to drink on the weekend do so responsibly and have pre-organised a safe way to get home.”

Globe Hotel licensee Peter Arnold, however, said the campaign was a “beat up about nothing”, with Corowa having a consistently low rate of alcohol-related crime.

“We never have any problems and we don’t expect to have any this coming weekend,” he said.

AARC estimates that more than $94,000 has been saved in police resources and medical costs through the community intervention program already this year.

The next intervention is planned for August 21 to 23.