Auckland’s turn to shout about alcohol law reform

It’s our turn to shout media release 9 November 2010

Auckland residents are being urged to have their say on the Government’s alcohol reform bill tabled this week in Parliament.

The bill, if passed, would give communities increased input into liquor licensing decisions affecting their neighbourhoods. But experts warn the bill does not go far enough, and that its provisions might be watered down unless communities have their say to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee.

The bill before Parliament is the Government’s response to recommendations made by the Law Commission after a two-year review of New Zealand’s liquor laws. In its report, Alcohol in our lives: Curbing the harm , the Law Commission said it heard from many communities about the harms arising from the proliferation of local alcohol outlets.

Alcohol Healthwatch Director Rebecca Williams says neighbourhoods across the country have been frustrated for years that current law does not take account of community concerns or empower them to stop the increasing number of licenses being granted.

“Since the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 was passed, the number of liquor outlets in New Zealand has more than doubled.1 In the Auckland region the number of liquor outlets increased 53 percent from 2033 in 1998 to 3104 in 2008. International and New Zealand research shows a clear link between the number and location of outlets and crime.”2

The new alcohol reform bill will allow councils voluntarily to develop local alcohol policies controlling local trading hours and giving the community more say in granting further licences.

However, Ms Williams says the proposed law changes will not significantly impact on New Zealand’s harmful drinking culture and that alcohol must become less easy to acquire, and less glamorous as a product.

“We need legislation that will get rid of alcohol advertising, make alcohol less cheap, and remove it from dairies and supermarkets. Giving communities more say is a start, but it will be hard to make a real difference when heavy drinking remains popularised as the norm and alcohol literally flows everywhere you go.”

Ms Williams is urging Aucklanders to become involved and help send the message to politicians that local communities want the law changes to go much further.

“This is a one-in-20-year opportunity. It would be a tragedy if we fail to make the significant liquor law changes New Zealand needs and communities want.”

She is encouraging individuals and groups to make submissions to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee after the bill has received its first reading.

“We’re saying it’s your turn to shout. It’s time for community voices to be heard above those who have a vested interest in New Zealanders drinking more.”

For more information see www.ourturn2shout.org.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media