5 August 2004

Young Nats support current drinking age

"The drinking age should remain at 18, no exceptions," says New Zealand Young Nationals Chairman, Jamie Simpson.

"Lack of responsibility by parents, and individuals making poor choices are why more young people are going to drink, regardless of the legal age. These are the real problems that need addressing. Increasing the age to 20 is not the solution.

"The Progressives, NZ First, and United Future are wrong in their calls for the drinking age to be raised. They must look deeper, into issues relating to parenting, New Zealand's drinking culture, and most importantly - enforcement," says Mr Simpson.

"Both the sellers of alcohol and the buyers need to take more responsibility and be held accountable for their actions."

These comments are made in light of a recent Massey University study showing some Auckland bottle shops, supermarkets and grocery stores were not asking for identification.

"The revised drinking age law was introduced in 1999 to bring New Zealand into line with other age-based rights that we have in our country," says Jamie Simpson

"There are much bigger issues affecting young people in this country, such as, the 'P' epidemic, growing student debt, and the uncertain future created by a Government that treats people differently on the basis of their race," says Mr Simpson.

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>>