Young Labour expresses mixed feelings towards Government's alcohol reform package

The Government's package of measures to address alcohol harm in New Zealand incorporates a number of ideas which will have varying degrees of success if implemented, with Young Labour Keep it 18 Spokesperson Nicola Wood calling it a “mixed bag.”

“Young Labour is in favour of some of the reforms, but we are absolutely opposed to the split purchase age, which would be 18 for licensed premises like bars and nightclubs, and 20 for off-licenses, which include supermarkets and liquor stores.”

“The most popular argument put forward by supporters of the split age is that by stopping 18 and 19 year olds from buying alcohol at off-licenses, supply to underage drinkers will be cut off. However this shows how out of touch lawmakers are with the reality of our drinking culture: the majority of underage drinkers are given alcohol by their parents” said Wood.   

 “Although some MPs may be inclined to think that the policy will encourage responsible drinking, they would simply be entrenching harmful drinking on licensed premises.”

“This would potentially put young drinkers in unsafe situations, particularly if this proposal was imposed in conjunction with a nationwide closing time for bars and clubs, as young people would spill out on to the streets with little supervision.”

“Young Labour believe that in creating a split age, Parliament is actually sending a message that all drinking is safe, so long as it is in a bar."

 As well as asserting that the split age is an ineffective means of combating New Zealand’s drinking culture, Young Labour believes that it is unnecessary, given that there are other recommendations in the Government's package which would better achieve the same aims.

Young Labour President Analiese Jackson says the organisation lends its full support to a number of the Government’s other proposals including placing a maximum limit on the alcohol content of RTDs; increasing current penalties for supplying alcohol to intoxicated persons; toughening restrictions on the advertising of alcohol; broadening licensing considerations and making it illegal for anyone to supply alcohol to a minor unless they are the parent or legal guardian of that minor.

 “Some politicians have said that we must not cherry-pick the Law Commission's recommendations in relation to alcohol law reform. However, when dealing with an issue that will have such a dramatic social impact on our country and in our communities, Young Labour believes that the best course of action would be to evaluate each separate policy on its merits and decide which recommendations are most likely to be effective in combating New Zealand's drinking problem.”

 “As the one group within the Labour Party with a unique perspective on youth issues, we look forward to working constructively with Members of Parliament and other interest groups in order to get the best out of the Government’s recommendations for New Zealand's youth” concluded Jackson.
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