-
Source: Reuters
Raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 20 looks likely to be back on the new Government's agenda this year.
Justice Minister Simon Power says it would be considered again in the context of the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill which was introduced by the former Labour Government last August.
The bill gives local councils more control of liquor outlets and was due to have its first reading when Parliament resumes before going to a select committee for public submissions.
Although the bill does not refer to the drinking age, Power, who voted to keep the age at 18 when it last came up in 2006, says he was sure there would be submissions asking for the age to be raised.
The age was cut from 21 to 20 in 1967 and was lowered again to 18 in 1999.
The last Parliament voted by 72-49 against a private member's bill by former Hamilton West MP Martin Gallagher to raise the age back to 20 in 2006.
Power says he voted to keep the age at 18 because he believed the drinking age should not be dealt with in isolation.
"I sat on the select committee that heard submissions, and two things struck me," he says.
"First, when the police came before that committee they said that in 51% of cases (of under-age drinking) the last drink had been taken at home. That has stuck in my mind."
"Second, one has the issue of the proliferation of liquor licences and the hours they operate. I think that to deal with the drinking age in isolation from those would have us going round in circles."
