Wednesday, 4 August 2004

Adams: End off-licence booze sales to those under 20

United Future's Paul Adams is sponsoring a Member's Bill that would stop those under 20 buying alcohol from off-licence premises, while retaining their right to drink in bars and other licensed venues.

"This is about tackling binge drinking - something which the current law is failing spectacularly to achieve," Mr Adams, United Future's youth affairs spokesman, said.

New Massey University research released today showing a clear increase in the number of liquor outlets around Auckland selling alcohol to teenagers without seeking ID simply reinforced the failings of the current legislation, he said.

"I completely agree with the conclusion of the researchers that we are not protecting our young people through the current provisions.

"If we are serious about doing this, then let's bring the age for taking liquor away back up to 20 to combat binge-drinking which usually occurs in private environments, and allow responsible drinking on licensed premises from the age of 18," Mr Adams said.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>