Wellington MP supports 18 year-old drinkers

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, July 28, 1999

Wellington MP Annabel Young supports 18 year-olds being allowed to drink alcohol in pubs and clubs. She also supports higher penalties for anyone who provides alcohol to seriously intoxicated customers, regardless of the drinker's age.

"It is too easy to blame the age of drinkers when the real problem is the easy access to alcohol by intoxicated individuals of every age" she said.

"I support increasing penalties imposed on anyone who serves alcohol to a person who is obviously unable to handle it. This is not an issue of age. Each of us has to take responsibility for our own drinking and for the alcohol that we supply to others.

"Many bars and sports clubs need a wake-up call about the consumption of alcohol on their premises. For example, if a club is letting the Under-18 team drink then that club cannot say that it didn't know the age of the drinkers."

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