Media Release

7 May 2003

Government Lacks Bottle In Dealing With Teenage Drinking

New Zealand First law and order spokesperson Ron Mark refuses to accept that the Government’s move to increase alcohol taxes will tackle the problem of teenage drinking.

“The measure will increase excise duty on lighter alcoholic beverages such as sherry and port to the same level as stronger alcoholic beverages but will not have any impact on the popular alcopops,” explained Mr Mark.

“Everyone knows that alcopops, designed for convenience and targeted at a youth audience, are the real problem. Even the Government established in a recent report that alcopops were a “significant factor” in teenage drinking.

“The failure to include alcopops in this piece of legislation is inexcusable and only serves to highlight the Government’s real objective – to line its pockets.

“If the Government genuinely wants to modify the drinking habits of teenagers it would raise the drinking age back to 20 and strictly police the laws.

“As it stands, this Government lacks the bottle to admit past mistakes and rectify the root of the problem,” concluded Mr Mark.

ENDS

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