Communities Mobilise For Alcohol Law Reform

Public March/Rally Sunday 15 August 2010

The Manukau Alcohol Action Group and the Salvation Army, have together organised a public March/Rally on Sunday August 15, 2010 calling for alcohol law reform.

The March/Rally will call upon the Government to adopt the full package of recommendations put forward by the Law Commission in its report entitled Alcohol in our Lives: Curbing the Harm .

Manukau Alcohol Action Group co-ordinator Rebecca Williams says communities have been carrying the heavy burden of alcohol-related harm for too long, and are ready for the Government to take a strong leadership role on this issue.

“The current liberal laws around alcohol have clearly not worked and we now need more effective evidence-based tools from the Government to better take care of our families and communities.”

Salvation Army representative Major Campbell Roberts says the package of recommendations put forward by the Law Commission represents community best interests and will be the key to help curb New Zealand’s hazardous drinking culture.

“These recommendations need to be adopted as a package and not cherry-picked by the Government if we are to start seeing significant changes in New Zealand’s attitudes towards alcohol.”

Manukau Alcohol Action Group member and Otara resident Poutoa Papali’i says this March/Rally is a great opportunity for communities to have a say about what laws will best serve their needs.

“For too long as communities we have had no say around how alcohol is sold and promoted in our backyards.

“Our streets are awash with liquor stores and under our current law communities are powerless to do anything about it.”

The March/Rally will call for a number of proposals to be put in place by the Government. These include increasing alcohol prices, restoring the purchase age to 20, restricting liquor marketing and promotion, reducing alcohol accessibility and lowering the adult blood alcohol limit for driving to 0.05 – all recommendations that are backed by strong evidence to show they reduce harm.

Agenda for March/Rally:

1pm marchers will gather and set off from 3 locations:

Puhinui Park (March along Cavendish Drive, Great South Road and Wiri Station Road)

Manukau Sports Bowl (March along Te Irirangi Drive, Great South Road and Wiri Station Road)

Manurewa Town Centre (March along Great South Road and Wiri Station Road)

2pm rally commences:

Manukau Square (Next to the Westfield Shopping Centre, corner of Putney and Osterley Way)

Visit www.ourturn2shout.org.nz for further details.

ENDS

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