Booze proposals no 'return to wowserism'

BY MICHAEL FOX

Cutting taxes on low-alcohol drinks and tightening the hours when alcohol can be sold are among the ideas put forward in a review of New Zealand's liquor laws.

The Law Commission today released its recommendations in a 279-page report outlining a number of proposed initiatives aimed at curbing the problems fuelled by our booze culture.

"New Zealand has some serious problems with the use of alcohol which are detailed in this paper," said Law Commission president Sir Geoffrey Palmer.

Suggestions put forward in the paper include:

* Introducing a split purchase for alcohol allowing young people to drink on a licensed premises from age 18 and to purchase from an off-licence from age 20;

* A completely new Sale of Liquor Act;

* Measures aimed at curbing harmful drinking, such as reducing the availability of cheap drinks favoured by young and heavy drinkers;

* Reducing excise tax on low-alcohol products to encourage their consumption over stronger drinks;

* Reducing the hours within which alcohol can be bought;

* Expanding the criteria under which a licence can be declined;

* Expanding the range of conditions that can be imposed on licensees;

* Introducing graduated licensing fees to ensure low risk operators aren't unfairly burdened.

Members of the public have three months, to the end of October, to make submissions.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad welcomed the review, saying that alcohol places a considerable strain on police resources and information about the misuse of alcohol was disturbing.

"Police recognise that legislation change is not the sole solution to reducing alcohol related harm, but we do consider that it is appropriate to be reviewing the legislation" Mr Broad said.

Mr Broad said alcohol was a key driver of offending and placed a considerable strain on police resources. Police figures show:

* At least a third of all offenders apprehended by police have consumed alcohol prior to their arrest. This rises to two-thirds of all offenders during the weekend period.

* Around half of all victims or offenders involved in a homicide are affected by alcohol.

* In 2007/8 police had to take over 21,000 people from public settings to places of safety due to their high levels of intoxication. Many of these people end up in police cells until they sober up.

Mr Palmer said that while the Law Commission was "not advocating a return to wowserism", the evidence suggested it was time to look at ways to curb the harmful effects of drinking to excess and curb the associated harm.

"That view has wide support. It is supported by a range of highly credible groups, including judges, medical specialists and police," he said.

The report suggested that heavy drinking and drunkenness were generating the most harm.

"We must achieve a balance between harm and consumer benefit flowing from the use of alcohol," Mr Palmer said, adding that while not everyone drank to excess, the consequences of harmful drinking affected everyone.

The report highlighted the effects of alcohol use on criminal offending and on peoples' health.

Mr Palmer said that a preliminary submission by District Court Judges estimated that up to 80 per cent of offenders had drug and alcohol problems.

He said this had highlighted the fact that there were not enough treatment programmes, something that also needed to be addressed.

"Alcohol is a contributing factor to a range of social harms. Some of these are very visible, such as anti-social behaviour and aggression associated with intoxication in public places."

He added that alcohol's association with other problems - such as alcohol dependency and road fatalities - was less visible but potentially devastating.

The report also outlined strong new evidence suggesting that young people faced increased risk of both short-term and long-term harm from early and high-volume drinking.

 

- © Fairfax NZ News