Press Release
Stephen Berry

Berry Responds to Challenge by Conservatives

“I thank Colin Craig for accepting my challenge to debate the issue of alcohol law reform and drug legalisation. It is an issue that has been quietly swept under the carpet by the media in this campaign but one that needs to be aired before a future Parliament attempts to further increase alcohol regulations after the election,” says Independent Tamaki candidate Stephen Berry. “For now I would like to address the issues he raised in his reply press release.”

Mr. Berry would like to start by reassuring voters that he has no plans to remove speed limits on roads under the guise on personal freedom. “Roads are collectively owned and therefore the public government has every right to set speed restrictions which make the roads safer to use. Individual’s lives and bodies however, are individually owned and the collective has no right to them. Individuals have the right to live their lives in any manner they see fit as long as they take responsibility for their actions and do not initiate force against others. The right to one’s own liberty can only be realised if one accepts responsibility for one’s own actions.”

Colin Craig points out to Stephen Berry that alcohol related harm costs New Zealand taxpayers $5 billion a year. Berry argues that this is because we have a collectivist health system that allows individuals to take some liberty with their bodies without taking any responsibility. “On my website I make clear that my policy is for the health system to be privatised in conjunction with the deregulation of alcohol and legalisation of all medical and recreational substances. Individual excesses and damages caused by irresponsibility under the influence of substances should be paid for by those responsible for them, not with other people’s money.”

“Mr. Craig is also wrong to suggest that I am competing with Don Brash for the “pro-substance vote.” Dr. Brash has presented a case for an undefined decriminalisation of cannabis. I present a case for total legalisation and deregulation of all substances for adults. What Dr. Brash and I both have in common is that we are both courting the vote of those who believe in liberty. Unfortunately Dr. Brash’s stand has been compromised by the conservative faction of the Act party. My own principles remain intact.”

Finally Stephen responds to Mr. Craig’s claims about brain damage caused by alcohol consumption. “Mr. Craig claims that alcohol permanently damages brain development up until a person is 24 years of age. I ask, if the Conservative party’s position on alcohol is based on a desire to reduce harm, then why are they not advocating making the alcohol purchase age 24 instead of 21? I say that perceived harms should be completely irrelevant to the legal status of a substance. The only considerations that are relevant are the personal sovereignty of the individual over their own body and the responsibility that the individual takes for their decisions.”

“It is my hope that TVNZ takes Mr. Craig up on his offer to host a debate with myself over drug and alcohol laws. If they do not I would be more than happy to debate Colin at a public meeting in Tamaki or over a quiet pint at the bar.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media