Minister Tollner announced people could risk being forced to stay dry for up to 12 months if they committed offences while intoxicated and added breaches of court-ordered alcohol bans could bring a fine or jail time. "Anyone who commits a crime that carries a sentence of more than six months who is very affected by alcohol can surely expect to have an alcohol protection order placed on them," he said.

Mount Isa justice advocate Father Mick Lowcock said anything was worth a try to address issues with alcohol but he admitted that drinking was often a symptom of something bigger.

"We need to find what the issues behind the drinking are, there might be personal issues that need to be dealt with," he said.

"People can choose to be in jail and not drinking or out of jail and not drinking - I always said it's better to be out of jail than in."

Father Mick said making the penalties for breaching the drinking bans may add to people's problems rather than help deter them.

"It's like saying you've got a gambling issue so just stop gambling," he said.

"Sometimes you need to look at the bigger issues and ask why people are doing those things.

"It will work for some and it won't for others."

State Member for Mount Isa Rob Katter said although alcohol bans had been very effective in reducing violence and crimes in places like Doomadgee and Mornington Island in Queensland, they have also been successful in transferring problems to Mount Isa where no alcohol restrictions currently exist.

"I see the State Government intends on doing its bit but it needs to be driven by the communities," he said.

"The impact of the ban has been forcing problems back into our town and needs to be carefully thought out."