17 November 2004

Hon Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader

Binge drinking culture change only one part of the answer

"A culture change programme to eradicate binge drinking, as outlined by the Associate Minister of Health Damien O’Connor, is needed but is not enough," Progressive Deputy Leader Matt Robson said today.

"Reduction of risky and binge drinking, to be effective, must include raising the drinking age to 20 years and controls on liquor advertising. My member’s bill provides both,” said Matt Robson.

"Legislation and enforcement of compulsory breath testing has been a fundamental part of the package that reduced drink driving accidents. Media campaigns were not enough on their own to prevent drink driving.

"The Progressive policy to lift the drinking age is based on international evidence that this has reduced harm caused to young people.

"To change the culture and protect young people from alcohol abuse cannot be done without legislation to lift the drinking age," Matt Robson 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>>