Victoria Bitter Xtra beer by Carlton and United Breweries won’t be sold in the Northern Territory

A high-strength variation of one of Australia’s most famous beers will not be sold in one part of the country over fears of increased levels of alcohol-fuelled violence.

The Victoria Bitter Xtra beer, brewed by Carlton and United Breweries, has an alcohol percentage of 6 per cent, 1.1 per cent more than the classic Victoria Bitter that is sold nation-wide.

Carlton and United Breweries announced that the new beer will not be available in the Northern Territory during its launch this week.

The decision comes in the midst of skyrocketing incidences of alcohol-related violence in the Territory and alcohol bans in communities surrounding Alice Springs.

It has also sparked calls for other breweries to follow suit and limit the amount of extra-strength alcohol sold in the Territory.

The Northern Territory has seen a spike in alcohol related violence after Howard-era liquor bans in remote communities were repealed last year.

Statistics from Northern Territory Police show that domestic violence assaults increased by 65 per cent and alcohol-related assault were up by 68 per cent between 2021 and 2022.

According to a report from the Northern Territory Government, ‘as of September 2022, 1 in 27 people in Alice Springs experienced alcohol related assault, compared to 1 in 154 people in Darwin’.

Darren Clarke, who started the campaign to spotlight the violence in Alice Springs, told Daily Mail Australia that he believed Indigenous kids were coming into town and committing crimes acts of violence to get away from alcohol-fuelled violence at home. 

Liquor bans were re-implemented in communities surrounding Alice Springs in February after a crime wave swept over the central Australian city (pictured, a shop window broken during the crime wave)

The new VX was created to satisfy the growing market for higher percentage beers, made popular by craft beer breweries

VB Brand Director Sarah Wilcox said that while almost 30 per cent of Carlton & United Breweries beer sales are to light or moderate strength beers, higher percentage beers are becoming more popular in the craft beer scene.

‘Higher-alcohol beers are increasingly popular in the craft segment, and we think there’s a market among traditional beer lovers who also want bolder and more intense flavours. It’s all about choice,’ Ms Wilcox said.

‘We’ve launched VX to give beer lovers a slightly bolder and more intense version of the great VB taste they’ve enjoyed for generations.

‘It is brewed to be enjoyed with mates and to offer more choices of great-tasting beer for various occasions.’

The new VX beer will cost $16 for a four pack and $60 for a slab outside of the Northern Territory.