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Source: Reuters -
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The age of drinking could go up to 20 if the Law Commission gets its way and their recommendations are taken up by the government.
The commission has studied the effect of alcohol on the community for the last year and says our current liquor laws simply aren't working.
ONE News reported the main points of the Law Commission's report last week and it was released officially today.
Key policy recommendations include the introduction of a new Alcohol Harm Reduction Act, raising the price of alcohol by an average of 10% through excise tax increases, returning the minimum purchase age for alcohol to 20 and introducing national maximum closing hours for both on and off-licences. On-licences will have to close by 4am and off-licences by 10pm.
Other recommendations include regulating irresponsible promotions that encourage the excessive consumption or purchase of alcohol; strengthening the rights and responsibilities of parents for the supply of alcohol to minors and increasing the ability of local people to influence how and where alcohol is sold in their communities.
The commission also calls for increasing personal responsibility for unacceptable or harmful behaviours induced by alcohol, including a civil cost recovery regime for those picked up by the police when grossly intoxicated.
And it wants a more over time to regulate alcohol advertising and sponsorship.
Blueprint for reducing effects of misuse
Launching the report, Alcohol in Our Lives: Curbing the Harm, Law Commission President Sir Geoffrey Palmer says the 153 recommendations contained in the report provide a blueprint for reducing both the short and long term effects of alcohol misuse on society.
Palmer says those who enjoy alcohol socially and drink in a low risk manner will be little affected by the Law Commission's recommendations.
He says the commission's reforms are firmly targeted at reducing the harms associated with heavy drinking and drinking to intoxication.
"To do this we need to ensure that alcohol is promoted, sold and supplied in a manner which better reflects the risks and responsibilities associated with its consumption."
Justice Minister Hon Simon Power asked the commission to report a year earlier than originally intended because he was concerned alcohol was a driver of crime.
The commission undertook a three month public consultation and received 2,939 submissions on its original Issues paper, Alcohol in Our Lives, published last July.
Palmer says the size of the final report and number of recommendations reflect the broad ranging terms of reference given to the commission. These required it to examine not only the licensing system but also alcohol pricing and promotions, parental responsibilities, and how to ameliorate the adverse effects of alcohol on health and crime.
Pendulum swung too far
Palmer says while there have been many benefits associated with the liberalisation of New Zealand's liquor laws in 1989, the resounding message the commission received from the public was that the pendulum had swung too far.
A saturated alcohol market had led to intense competition and the over commercialisation of alcohol.
"A can of beer or an RTD can be bought for one or two dollars in many retail outlets. This is less than we pay for bottled water.
"One of the consequences of alcohol being promoted and sold at pocket-money prices is that we risk losing sight of its status as a legal drug, capable of causing serious harm to others."
However, the Prime Minister is ruling out putting the price of a pint up.
"A substantial increase would affect all consumers of alcohol and we think that would be unfair," he says.
The government is also pouring cold water on a possible $5,000 fine for parents or guardians who supply alcohol to minors without adequate supervision.
"We are unlikely to move into peoples private lives in a way which would see individuals not having responsibility for their decision making, that's historically where National have stood on those issues," says Power.
Palmer says there is growing research evidence of a causal link between alcohol intoxication and aggression. The police are in no doubt that one of the key drivers behind the escalating levels of violent crime in this country was the abuse of alcohol, he says.
While many New Zealanders drink in a low-risk manner and reap the benefits, the uncomfortable truth is that a very significant minority - as many as 25% of all drinkers - drink heavily when they drink, he says.
And a much larger number engage in a persistent pattern of episodic binge drinking - the worst pattern of drinking for one's own health and for inflicting damage on others.
The Ministry of Health's latest Alcohol Use Survey reveals six in 10 past-year drinkers had become intoxicated at least once in the past year. This equates to 1.3 million people, or half the total adult population.
The government now has to decide where it stands on all the recommendations.
What do you think of proposed changes to the liquor laws? Share your thoughts on the messageboard below.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentgrumpy44I said on 2010-08-16 @ 09:56 NZDT: Report abusive post
i dont drink. but i believe that we need a zero tolerance on people drinking driving in New Zealand. how many people must get injured or die. before the government will wake up. it makes me angry that the goverment is so week. on this problem.
radar832004 said on 2010-07-05 @ 00:02 NZDT: Report abusive post
The reason nothing gets done is the government creams it in tax on alcohol! Simple as that.
radar832004 said on 2010-07-05 @ 00:01 NZDT: Report abusive post
The reason nothing gets done is the government creams it in tax on alcohol! Simple as that.
rickus1 said on 2010-07-04 @ 17:52 NZDT: Report abusive post
Make it illegal to get drunk. You are not allowed to drink and drive. Why should you be allowed to get drunk at all??
Wolfman said on 2010-07-04 @ 15:49 NZDT: Report abusive post
Simple answer is to get the alcohol out of the Supermarkets and shut 70% of these small liquor outlets that have opened up in every suburb of New Zealand. It seems every 2nd immigrant that comes to this country opens up a Liquor outlet at the blessing of the Kindergarten Politicians. (Councils) Stop all advertising including in sport.