Liquor law protest
KAREN MANGNALL
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SEVERAL thousand marchers calling for urgent alcohol law changes are expected to converge on Manukau on Sunday.
Organisers are hoping for a big turnout to send the government a clear message that it should adopt the whole package of Law Commission recommendations for changing the Sale of Liquor Act.
Manukau Alcohol Action Group co-ordinator Rebecca Williams says the recommendations offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to roll back the harm caused by two decades of liberal liquor laws.
Raising alcohol prices and the purchase age to 20, restricting alcohol availability, marketing and promotion, and lowering the adult blood alcohol limit are all proven to reduce harm, she says.
"These proposals will help us get on top of our drinking culture and provide care and protection for our communities."
But Ms Williams, who's also director of Alcohol Healthwatch, says there are worrying signs the government isn't committed to the major law changes the community clearly wants.
It has already backed off a recommendation to lower the adult driving blood alcohol level and is "showing cold feet" around raising the tax on alcohol to push up prices.
"So discounting and cheap liquor is going to prevail and they also don't seem to have the confidence to restrict alcohol promotion," she says.
It's time for political leadership to give communities these "sharp tools" to fight alcohol harm.
"Communities have been paying the cost for years and haven't had the support from legislation. We know what has to be done. The march is saying, `hey c'mon, just get on and do it'."
Otara Gambling and Alcohol Action Group member Poutoa Papali'i says his community is awash with liquor stores and the law leaves it powerless to do anything about it.
"The biggest reform we are asking for is more community control over liquor outlets," he says.
"We accept our responsibility to clean up our backyard but we're also looking for real political leadership to bring about that change."
Salvation Army social researcher and Manurewa resident Alan Johnson says many of the "worst excesses and examples of where the law doesn't work" are evident in south Auckland.
But local communities are frustrated the government is talking about tinkering with the alcohol laws when significant changes are needed.
The Law Commission's main recommendation to raise the tax on alcohol and to put up the price has already been rejected by Justice Minister Simon Power.
But Mr Johnson says evidence shows that would "knock off the sharp end of hazardous and youth drinking by about 10 percent" but add only $1 to a bottle of wine. The extra income could boost under-funded alcohol treatment programmes like the one run by the Salvation Army in Hamilton which has a lengthy waiting list.
The whole approach to issuing liquor licences must also change, Mr Johnson says.
"It should be seen not as a property right but as a privilege that doesn't get granted unless there's clear evidence it won't be socially harmful."
Organisers are hoping up to 5000 will turn out for the march.
Some local churches are organising their Sunday congregations to attend and supporters are expected from across Auckland and as far afield as Hamilton and Whangaparaoa.
Marchers will leave at 1pm on Sunday from Puhinui Park, the Manukau Sports Bowl and Manurewa's Northcrest carpark to converge on Manukau Square in the city centre.
There'll be a rally from 2pm to 3pm with speakers from Alcohol Healthwatch, the Otara Gambling and Alcohol Action Group, the Salvation Army and youth groups.
See www.ourturn2shout.org.nz or call 520-7038 for details.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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