Alcoholic violence and degradation is the price Australians have chosen to pay for this abusive form of self indulgence.

However, mandatory detention seems like an improbable solution to such an intractable problem, but what's the alternative to non-compliance: national service, community service, social ostracism or purpose-built sanatorium facilities, to remove the worst offenders and free up hospital beds for real emergencies?

Who are the 'we' in 'we all agree we have an alcohol problem in this country'? I am not one of the we nor are most of the people I know. The so called 'alcohol problem' is yet another fear based campaign by people who like to call themselves health professionals to help maintain their excessively tax payer funded organisations. Huge amounts of money are wasted in this country on preventative health campaigns despite a lack of evidence that they have any effect at all.

At least when they were called the Independent Order of Rechabites, we knew who the wowsers were. They've changed their image these days but the message is still the same. Stop enjoying yourself; don sack cloth and ashes; and bow down before the god of wholesomeness. St Paul, were he still alive, would love it all.

I too disagree with the statement that we have a problem with alcohol. I can't remember the last time I saw a drunk person in public.
The fact that so many Australians drink more than the "National guidelines for consumption of Alcohol" is perhaps a reflection of the inappropriate lowness of the recommendation rather than a sign of rampant alcoholism in the community.
As far as the cost of treating alcohol induced illness goes, society bears the cost of treating all potentially avoidable illnesses. It doesn't give society the right to force people to be healthier.
Obesity is the biggest cause of preventable illness at the moment. Should we force all the fatties into fat farms? What about sporting injuries? Do we as a nation have a problem with sports? Should we ban all sports?
There is nothing wrong with encouraging a culture of sensible drinking, but forcing alcoholics into rehab is unlikely to help.

Improve mentality & alcoholism will take a step back.

Oh yes, I can just see it now, hotel staff allowed to serve each individual only the recommended amount of alcohol each visit, maybe have a breath analyser test first in case they've had a drink elsewhere? how many pubs would close, how many jobs lost? driving more folk to despair ( and alcoholism, or will there be electronic police in the home too?)
I don't see office staff gathering outside buildings having a quick grog in their teabreak, or shuffling at bus stops swigging on a stubby. As in most instances self moderation works for the majority of people imo, as for others who may have a problem, they should be helped individually and with regard to their circumstances, mandatory detention sounds a tad draconian to me

This author falls into a trap of contrivance, a tool used by the alcohol industry to perpetuate the myth that to be a little “Pissy” is acceptable, but only “Bad” people are drunks; evidenced in comments above!