The popular tourist town of Broome, in WA's Kimberley, is moving towards liquor restrictions in a bid to reduce alcohol-related harm in the community.

The town is a favourite holiday destination where tens of thousands of travellers flock every year to enjoy the pristine landscape, tropical climate, and the promise of a beer on the world-renowned Cable Beach.

But underneath this picture-postcard setting, the unlimited access to large amounts of takeaway alcohol has fuelled a dark side of violence and poverty.

Broome Shire president Harold Tracey has seen it firsthand.

"It's devastating; it's heartbreaking to see families and individuals absolutely destroyed by alcohol," he said.

Access to unlimited amounts of alcohol has been linked to chronic social problems in the Kimberley. ( ABC News: Erin Parke )

Alcohol linked to suicide

The move, which comes less than a week after WA coroner Ros Fogliani released her findings into the suicides of 13 Indigenous children and young people, has been the subject of long-running negotiations with the town's hotels and bottle shops.

Ms Fogliani found that alcohol played a major role in many of the deaths and recommended new regulations to make it harder to purchase alcohol throughout the region.

"Excessive alcohol use in households in the Kimberley communities has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of children and young people," she wrote.

"[Alcohol] is a major causal factor in disruptive behaviours, crime, domestic violence, broken families, children not attending school, and neurological impairment."

Enough is enough

Broome Shire president, Harold Tracey believes action is needed to reduce access to takeaway alcohol in Broome. ( ABC Kimberley )

Mr Tracey is among a host of community leaders determined to address the trauma caused by problem drinking.

The Broome Liquor Accord, which is made up of local retailers and residents, yesterday agreed to move towards limiting the amount of takeaway booze that can be purchased in town.

As part of the 12-month trial of restrictions, sales are expected to be limited to two bottles of wine and a carton of beer, or one bottle of spirits, per person, per day, similar to restrictions in place in Kununurra and the Pilbara.

An electronic management system, allowing for bottleshop owners to monitor people's purchases across Broome, is also expected to be part of the trial.

The takeaway alcohol management system, or TAMS, which requires buyers to scan their identification at the bottle shop, has been introduced in other towns across the region.

The technology is designed to stop people loading up on grog at multiple venues.

Mr Tracey said Broome was one of the few towns in the Kimberley and Pilbara that did not have restrictions on bulk liquor purchases.

"There definitely has to be [restrictions], there's no denying that there are serious problems with alcohol-related harm.

Rehab workers welcome limits

It's a move welcomed by Andrew Amor who runs Broome's drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, Milliya Rumurra.

Mr Amor said it was not uncommon for people in the Kimberley to drive hundreds of kilometres to access large quantities of liquor.

"People do travel great distances to purchase alcohol and especially to those areas where there are no restrictions."

He said this often resulted in staying in town for long periods of time leading to overcrowding and disputes.

"We're talking about violent offences, family violence et cetera."

Andrew Amor runs Broome's major drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre and is fully supportive of the new restrictions. ( ABC Kimberley: Lachie Byrne )

Supermarket giants' co-operation not confirmed

Supermarket outlets Coles and Woolworths are the town's main suppliers of takeaway alcohol, with both grocery giants facing criticism from community leaders for their lack of action on alcohol.

The ABC understands Woolworths, through its BWS outlets, has expressed willingness to be part of the process, but Coles' involvement is yet to be finalised.

Publican Stewart Burchell runs the historic Roebuck Bay Hotel and he believed industry did have a role to play in addressing the issue.

"It really has to be unanimous for it to work," he said.

"As community-minded leaders, we're going to come to the party."

The trial is expected to begin in July.

Editors note 15/02/19: This story has been updated to include further information from the Shire of Broome.