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Alcohol on display in supermarket. - Source: ONE News
The Government is continuing to deny it is being pressured by alcohol manufacturers over minimum alcohol pricing.
Alcohol advocates say imposing a minimum pricing for each unit of alcohol would target price-sensitive young drinkers who are often associated with binge drinking.
However, the Government has refused to consider the policy as part of a raft of changes set to be implemented in the Alcohol Reform Bill.
Minister of Justice Judith Collins told Close Up tonight she had consulted alcohol manufacturers but had not broached the topic of minimum pricing.
"They've been lobbying everyone as far as I'm aware of," said Collins.
"I've certainly met with the alcohol industry when they've asked to meet with me but mostly they've met with my officials. But they certainly haven't been talking to me about minimum pricing."
Labour has been drumming up support for a plan to introduce a minimum pricing plan in Parliament with the aim of adding a clause to the Alcohol Law Reform Bill which would give the Ministry of Justice the power to set a minimum price for a drink.
"It's very easy, particularly for young women, to pre-load with cheap wine from the supermarkets and then go out on the town and get drunker and drunker," Labour MP Charles Chauvel said last week.
"If instead of being able to buy a bottle of cheap wine for $6 from the supermarket, a minimum pricing regime puts that up to 12, 13 or 14 dollars then it's much harder for people to lay their hands on cheap booze," Chauvel said.