Greens challenged to support higher drinking age

Progressive MP Matt Robson is welcoming the Greens' statement today indicating that the party may yet change its stance and support proposals to raise the minimum legal purchasing age back to twenty years.

"Day after day we get reports that indicate that the decision to lower the drinking age to eighteen, in 1999, was a mistake.

"This weekend, for example, police in Nelson have reported a sharp increase in the number of school students who are driving after drinking.

"It has also been reported that drink-drivers last year killed 142 people - the highest number since 1998.

"Green MP Nandor Tanczos today issued a press statement primarily about a conference that never occurred but which missed the main point. It is time politicians admitted we got it wrong in 1999 but that we are now strong enough to put the drinking age back up to twenty where it belongs," Matt Robson said.

Matt Robson has drafted a Bill which proposes to raise the minimum alcohol purchasing age to 20. The Bill also proposes to strengthen provisions relating to the supply of liquor to minors and to strengthen liquor advertising law.

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