National lets public down on alcohol reform

Lianne Dalziel
Justice Spokesperson
MP for Christchurch East

17 August 2010 Media Statement

National lets public down on alcohol reform

Labour's Justice spokesperson Lianne Dalziel says that the public has been let down by the Government's approach to alcohol law reform.

"As one of the architects of the Law Commission review I am disappointed the Government has been so cavalier in its approach,” Lianne Dalziel said. “The review was designed to provide Parliament with robust evidence for debate around the legislative framework for all alcohol related issues.

"At the same time I introduced legislation that made changes to both the regulatory framework, which included community involvement through local alcohol plans, and addressed enforcement issues including zero blood alcohol limits for under 20 year olds without a full licence.

"That bill has languished for two years waiting for the government bill to be introduced and it looks as if the government is now going to ‘cherry pick’ its way through the Law Commission's recommendations, because it lacks the courage to tackle the hard issues,” Lianne Dalziel said.

“They have also carved off the drink-driving counter-measures and made them subject to a party vote, because they know the numbers are there for lowering blood alcohol limits if it were a conscience vote,” she said.

“Communities have been taking to the streets demanding a greater say in licensing decisions, because they have to bear the brunt of the harm. Maybe John Key doesn't have to pick his way through broken bottles on weekend mornings, or replace his smashed letter-box on a regular basis, or suffer the abuse that our frontline police, ambulance and emergency department staff steel themselves for every Friday and Saturday night.

"There is a well-researched and evidence-based connection between accessibility and harm. Accessibility is about the convenience of outlets, their operating hours and the price. All three must be addressed along with the purchase age.

"Unless National has the courage to say that alcohol is not an ordinary commodity and should not be treated as just another item on the supermarket shelf, then we have no hope of preventing the harm that community after community has protested against in unprecedented numbers,” Lianne Dalziel said.

“Evidence shows five approaches are needed --- raising the price of alcohol; raising the purchase age; reducing alcohol accessibility; reducing marketing and advertising of alcohol; and increasing drink-driving counter measures.

"If we add better access to assessment and treatment options, then that’s what’s called the 5+ solution,” Lianne Dalziel said.

Lianne Dalziel said that the government was clearly unwilling to consider this having ruled out increasing the price of alcohol through excise tax increases and lowering the BAC limit from 80 to 50.

"I suspect they also won't go very far on the marketing of alcohol and unless they move on price, we will continue to see cheap wine and beer poured through our supermarket doors and RTDs through liquor stores, which fuel the ‘pre-loading’ that has become the norm for the current generation of drinkers.

"Every MP and every community and business leader should go out with the police after midnight and arrange a visit to the local emergency department. They would then see what our ‘café society’ really looks like to those on the front line.”

Lianne Dalziel says the Government must consult with other parties before settling on the final content of the alcohol law reform package. "We owe it to our communities to get this once-in-a-generation opportunity right.”

ENDS