Victoria abolishes public drunkenness as a crime ahead of death in custody inquest

The family of Tanya Day welcome 'a great first step' and push for a 'health and wellbeing based approach'

• An in-depth feature about the death of Tanya Day will be published by Guardian Australia on Saturday

The Victorian government has announced a plan to abolish the crime of public drunkenness four days ahead of an inquest into the death in custody of Yorta Yorta woman Tanya Day, who was arrested on the summary charge.

In its place will be a "health-based approach" that will "promote therapeutic and culturally safe pathways to assist alcohol-affected people in public places", a government statement said.