Bottle stores across the country are now putting buying limits on booze, with the tightest alcohol restrictions in Western Australia.

The new buying limits are designed to prevent panic purchasing as well as curb excessive drinking at home.

In Western Australia, locals are restricted to buying three bottles of wine, one carton of beer, cider or premix, one litre of spirits or one litre of fortified wine, per customer, per day. They can buy from across any two categories, but no more.

The restrictions apply across all liquor stores, as well as hotels and producers, across the state. The measures came into effect this morning at 10am (Wednesday, March 25) and will apply for a two-week minimum.

Meanwhile, Dan Murphy’s has also put on buying restrictions nationwide, however, they are a lot more generous.

Dan Murphy’s is currently restricting alcohol purchases to 18 bottles or three cask wines per customer, per day. They’ve also capped spirits at six bottles, and beers, cider and premix at three cases.

BWS, which is also owned by Woolworths, has implemented similar restrictions, limiting sales to 12 bottles of wine, three casks of wine, four bottles of spirits and four cases of beer, cider and premix.

While bottle stores are currently considered an “essential service”, there are concerns that this status may change, with new restrictions coming in hard and fast.