Mental Health Foundation wants alcohol purchase age to be 20

Mental Health Foundation wants alcohol purchase age to be 20 years

The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) has written to all members of parliament asking them to support a law amendment which would increase the minimum alcohol purchase age to 20 years.

“We believe increasing the minimum age for purchase will help reduce the amount of alcohol consumed by youth, improving their mental health and wellbeing,” MHF chief executive Judi Clements says in the letter.

“Consumption of alcohol is a significant problem for the wellbeing of New Zealand youth, and a contributing factor to rates of depression, suicide, vehicle accidents, physical and sexual assaults, injuries, educational problems, and risky sexual behaviour. Research shows youth drinking impairs cognitive development, and is a contributing factor in later adult drinking problems,” says Ms Clements.

“Changing the minimum age of purchase is only one of the many measures which, together, could work to address the problems of youth drinking, but it would, nonetheless, be a useful and effective step.”

The letter has been sent to all members of parliament ahead of the vote on Supplementary Order 280 to the Alcohol Reform Bill which is expected in the next few weeks.

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