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A lobby group for safe drinking says alcohol laws should be
tightened to protect young people and communities.
A Law Commission review of the Liquor Act recommends several changes such as increasing the price of alcohol, raising the legal drinking age and lowering the legal blood alcohol levels for drivers.
Alcohol Healthwatch has welcomed the Law Commission discussion
paper and urges people to make submissions to the commission.
Alcohol Healthwatch director Rebecca Williams says the review is a
golden opportunity for the community to reflect on "the 20-year
experiment which has allowed the liquor industry to exploit our
young".
She says it's communities that have to pick up the pieces following
alcohol-related deaths and injuries, and alcohol-fuelled crime and
violence.
Williams says current alcohol laws are not working and as a
consequence 61% of young people are drinking and 34% are binge
drinking.
"Our young people can buy relatively cheap alcohol from a large
number of places at all hours of the day and night. The subsequent
loss of life and life potential is simply unacceptable."
She says in 2008 alone, alcohol was a factor in the deaths of 28
drivers aged 15 to 24 who were killed in crashes themselves and in
the deaths of 27 passengers in vehicles driven by a drunk young
person.
"Young people are also turning up at hospital emergency departments
for detox or treatment for other alcohol-related injuries."
Williams says New Zealand needs a stronger Sale of Liquor Act, to
protect young people and create a safer drinking culture.
Alcohol Healthwatch says it would like to see:
- An increase in the price of alcohol, and controls on alcohol
price discounting
- A reduction in the number of outlets selling alcohol and the
hours they operate
- Elimination of alcohol advertising and sponsorship
- The minimum purchase age returned to 20 years
- The blood alcohol level for driving lowered
- Giving communities back their say into the planning for
alcohol-harm reduction in their neighbourhood
- The provision of accurate nutritional information and bold
warnings on alcohol containers, and at point of sale, about the
risks drinkers are taking.
Time to curb the harm
Law Commission president Sir Geoffrey Palmer says the time has come to curb the harm caused by heavy drinking and the government will have to get to grips with the problem.
After a long inquiry, Palmer on Thursday released the discussion paper with a raft of recommendations for liquor law reform which will be studied by ministers.
"New Zealand has some serious problems with the use of alcohol," he said.
"Not everyone drinks in a manner that is harmful but the consequences of harmful drinking affect us all."
Palmer said the evidence indicated heavy drinking and drunkenness were generating the most acute harm.
He wants public submissions on the discussion paper over the next three months.
The Law Commission's recommendations would have a significant impact on liquor laws if the government decides to implement some or all of them.
They include:
- Increase excise tax overall on alcohol or reduce it for
low-alcohol products
- Set a minimum price below which alcohol products can't be sold -
a measure being developed in Scotland
- Splitting the purchase age, leaving it at 18 for on-licence and
raising it to 20 for off-licence
- Making it an offence for an adult to supply liquor to a young
person unless it is at a private social gathering and the adult has
the consent of the young person's parent or guardian
- Putting the Liquor Licensing Authority under a District Court
Judge and increasing its powers to monitor trends and obtain
data
- Strengthen law enforcement by giving senior police officers the
power to close bars
- Consider making it an infringement offence to drink in a public
place.
The Law Commission has created an online consultation website
to generate public discussion on the issues. Check out
TalkLaw .
Do we need to change the law to make it more difficult to buy alcohol or are the actions of a minority spoiling things for the majority? Share your thoughts on the messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentBoozeviews said on 2009-08-03 @ 11:58 NZDT: Report abusive post
Have your say! Tell us what you think about the Law Commissions ideas for reform to New Zealands Liquor Laws! Discuss issues in forum discussions at http://www.talklaw.co.nz/liquor or send us an online submission.
tigertamer said on 2009-07-31 @ 21:21 NZDT: Report abusive post
The most stupid law to be considered. If we are going to supply people from liquor outlets at age 20 then it should be the same age restrictions at bars etc. as far as the comment from d.j. he or she needs to realise that whatever the price people will abuse the system - get a life!
Student18 said on 2009-07-31 @ 14:46 NZDT: Report abusive post
It wont help at all. There are already underage people getting ahold of alcohol there will just be an uprise in that. when you think about it there are 15 16 17 year olds getting it from shops or other people. you can add 18 19 on to that if you do change it. I seldom drink or go clubbing but i do know what goes on. And what is the point in the splitting of ages? if 18 year olds can get it from clubs why not let them have it at the shops?
d.j said on 2009-07-30 @ 21:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
One of solutions is to increase tax so that government will get more income and put the money to public health system.
simonrose81 said on 2009-07-30 @ 19:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
How will lowering the drinking limit helping lessen the drinking culture? Those who are going to drink will be over the limit that is present, those who wish not to offend will not drink at drive at all. It is important that the government aims to reduce the amount of drink consumed by an individual. This could be done through a limit to the amount an individual can buy in public.