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Source: Reuters -
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Community groups say the government's alcohol reforms announced today will do nothing to curb binge drinking and the problems it causes in society.
The government will introduce a graduated approach to purchasing alcohol - 18 years of age for on-licences and 20 years of age for off-licences.
It will be an offence for anyone other than a parent or guardian to provide alcohol to an under-18-year-old without a parent or guardian's consent.
RTDs will be restricted to 5% alcohol content and will be limited to containers holding no more than 1.5 standard drinks.
And the Minister of Justice, in consultation with the Minister of Health, will be able to ban alcohol products which are particularly appealing to minors or particularly dangerous to health. Click here to read more about the government's reforms (pdf).
Alcohol Action said the keenly awaited reforms would make no substantial difference to New Zealand's heavy drinking culture, nor to the scale of harm being suffered by individuals and families from dangerous drinking.
The measures announced by Justice Minister Simon Power today, while being a small step in the right direction, would be "fighting a bush fire with a couple of garden hoses for the next 20 years" said spokesperson Professor Jennie Connor, Head of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago.
"What has been announced are not sufficient to reset the 'normal' standard for drinking in New Zealand to something we can live with.
"The government has seriously misread public concern about heavy drinking and needs to rethink its policies," she said.
Professor Doug Sellman, Director of the National Addiction Centre said "the government has announced a comprehensive suite of half-hearted changes, policy tweaking and deferred initiatives, while failing to act on four evidence-based policies that would really make a difference".
These four key measures were lowering the adult level for drinking and driving to 0.05 immediately, putting major restrictions on alcohol marketing, advertising and sponsorship, removing alcohol from supermarkets and putting an end to "extremely low" alcohol prices.
Reform "misses the mark"
The Salvation Army said the 27 recommendations of the Law Commission's report on alcohol reform rejected by the government meant any real reform of New Zealand's "appalling and costly drinking culture" was seriously compromised.
The government's plans for alcohol law reform would be welcomed by the liquor industry but would fail to significantly protect New Zealanders from the damage caused by alcohol misuse, Salvation Army Social Policy Director Major Campbell Roberts said.
"Without an increase in excise tax, a lowering of the blood alcohol level and more attention to the marketing and advertising of alcohol, the tragic reality is New Zealanders will continue to suffer and die, and the taxpayer will continue to pay the third party health, social and criminal costs for the alcohol industry," Roberts said.
The Salvation Army had welcomed moves to provide greater powers for communities over liquor licensing, restricting off-licence hours, tightening alcohol promotion of off-licences and reducing the buying age at off-licences.
"But these steps are modest and half-hearted. What is needed is the full package of carefully-considered measures recommended by the Law Commission if we are to make any real difference," Roberts said.
The most effective policy to combat alcohol misuse, identified by the World Health Organisation, of raising the price of alcoholic drinks was the first major recommendation by the Law Commission.
"It is extremely disheartening that the government has not had the courage to raise the price by increasing tax and make what would have been a significant attack on excessive and dangerous drinking."
It was also disappointing that the government had failed to wholly address the blood alcohol limit for drivers or stop supermarkets using alcohol as a loss leader or universally restrict advertising and marketing of alcohol, Roberts said.
The government had also missed the point by describing the New Zealand's problem as a youth issue, he said.
"More than 90% of our problem drinkers are over the age of 20 and there is scant evidence the government is serious about solving the problems around this older group," he said.
"We Know Better"
Family First NZ said the government had adopted a "we know better" attitude to community concerns expressed on the issue of alcohol abuse in the community, and as a result the problems of domestic violence, child abuse, underage drinking and binge drinking would continue.
"The government has tackled the festering sore of alcohol harm with a tickle, and in the process ignored the overwhelming voice of New Zealanders and groups representing families and communities who made submissions to the Law Commission," said Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First.
"The proposals announced today will only have a small effect, if any, on excessive consumption and underage drinking.
"Polls over the last couple of years have shown that two thirds or more of New Zealanders want the drinking age raised to at least 20, instant fines for public drunkenness, on-license premises to close by 2am, and the legal blood-alcohol limit lowered to 50.
"These opinions have been ignored. The government says they are listening - the question is to who?"
The split drinking age sent a mixed message and also ignored the growing body of medical evidence regarding the harms of alcohol to teenagers and young people, he said.
What do you think of the changes? Have your say on our messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentthirdangel said on 2010-08-24 @ 14:08 NZDT: Report abusive post
I don't think changing the drinking age is going to change anything. If a teenager is determined to drink then they will find a way to do so. Raising the prices however, in my opinion, would curveball the drinking more than this, as it would stop kids spending pocket money from their parents, or work on alcohol. A 40 ounce of vodka being $30? Not just RTDs but concentrated alcohol too. It's pointless and this is not going to stop anything.
go2mount said on 2010-08-24 @ 00:55 NZDT: Report abusive post
It is obvious that alcohol to some people is a dangerous toy...if your child had a dangerous toy would you not take it away...Thats how I feel about Alcohol. It kills people...I know because it killed my daughter only 4 months ago..
Willedser said on 2010-08-23 @ 21:26 NZDT: Report abusive post
im 18 and have been arrested to detox and sent to hospital for alch posioning, aswell as been done for drink driving (on a motor bike, would never in a car).. and from there i admitted things needed to change for me, the rest of my mates havent taken the same attitude. the culture within some (not all) 18-19 year olds is hideous and needs to be changed.. and i welcome them to be honest.
Noddy samurai said on 2010-08-23 @ 19:23 NZDT: Report abusive post
Just rubbish
Noddy samurai said on 2010-08-23 @ 19:12 NZDT: Report abusive post
What a waste of time and effort we need some one with a spine to make real changes.