11 January 2001

New Zealand MP, Ron Mark, today poured scorn over the proposal by National MPs, Nick Smith and Bill English, who called for law changes to allow councils to ban the drinking of alcohol in public places.

“The arrogance of Nick Smith and Bill English knows no bounds. They must think we are all stupid. Their recently aired concerns over drunkenness and drinking in public places would be commendable if it wasn’t for the fact that both these MPs voted to lower the drinking age from 20 to 18 in 1999.

“Talk to any bobby on the beat anywhere in the country and they will tell you that the problem of teenage drunkenness, violence and unruly behaviour has worsened since the legal age for drinking was lowered.

“If Nick Smith and Bill English had not been so arrogantly dismissive of the concerns of elderly New Zealanders who wanted them to vote against the Bill in the third reading, we wouldn’t be facing the problems we are today”, said Ron Mark.

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