Media release from Jim Anderton's Progressive PartyTuesday 24 August 2010, 9:43AM
This government has missed the best opportunity in a decade to
reform our alcohol laws by failing to take the tough decisions that
would actually make a difference to New Zealand's drinking culture,
Jim Anderton, MP for Wigram and Progressive leader said
today.
"All the expert advice is that if you put up the price, consumption
will decline. But this government is merely asking the industry to
provide sales and pricing data over the next year, so that can
investigate a minimum pricing regime," Jim Anderton said.
Today Justice Minister Simon Power announced the Government's
alcohol reforms in response to the Law Commission Report which
called for sweeping changes to alcohol legislation.
"The Government has chosen to cherry pick some recommendations
while ignoring others. It has ignored the call for restrictions on
the advertising and sponsorship of alcohol, for changes to the cost
of alcohol to deter all drinkers, and for a clear message on the
drinking age - an increase to 20 years old.
"Splitting the drinking age sends a mixed message. It's like saying
'I sort of don't want my teenagers to binge drink at the weekend.
Just do it at the bar and I'll turn a blind eye'.
"I have campaigned for years to raise the age back to twenty years
at bars and off-licenses. My colleague Matt Robson's Member's Bill
provided for this back in 2005. But when it came to the Second
Reading, the House failed to support an increase to the age.
"I will be using my position as a Member of Parliament to move an
amendment to raise the age for both bars and off-licenses. Given
the two major parties are allowing a conscience vote on this, my
amendment has a real chance of succeeding," says Jim
Anderton.
"The changes announced today will not bring about the changes that
are needed to tackle the drinking culture head-on. If John Key's
government had the courage to stand apart from the alcohol
industry, it would have lowered the drink drive level to 50mg from
its present level of 80mg.
"The truth is the alcohol lobby has got to John Key's government
and they don't have the guts to do what's right," says Jim
Anderton.