Leading New Zealanders take a stand to tackle New Zealand’s heavy drinking culture

A group of 14 prominent New Zealand leaders, headed by former Governor General Sir Paul Reeves, will make a public statement on alcohol in Parliament this week.

"We are coming to Wellington to deliver a strong message to The Government about the need to make the most of the current once-in-a generation-opportunity to find better solutions to our country’s alcohol crisis," Sir Paul says.

"Positive new alcohol legislation needs to be introduced with urgency to deal with an increasingly out of control situation of heavy drinking in New Zealand".

The opportunity to highlight the damage from heavy drinking and promote solutions based on credible research has come about through a first principles' review of the liquor laws by a Law Commission team headed by Sir Geoffrey Palmer. The team spent more than two years studying the international evidence, considering 3000 submissions, and culminated in the document ‘Alcohol in our lives: curbing the harm’.

"The heavy drinking culture continues to damage our country on a daily basis," Sir Paul says, "We have a unique opportunity now to make real and substantial changes to begin to deal with one of the most important social issues of our time."

The VIP group of 14 includes Knights, Dames, Archbishops, sportspeople and other iconic New Zealanders.

ENDS

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