Government’s alcohol law reform misses the mark
The Salvation Army is disappointed at changes to alcohol legislation announced by Government on 23 August, which seriously compromise any real reform of New Zealand’s appalling and costly drinking culture.
Major Campbell Roberts, Secretary for Salvation Army Social Programme, says the Government’s rejection of 27 Law Commission recommendations will be welcomed by the liquor industry but fails to significantly protect New Zealanders from the damage caused by alcohol misuse.
The Law Commission has noted some ‘sobering statistics’ around New Zealand’s drinking culture:
- In 2008, alcohol importers and manufacturers made 9.5 litres of pure alcohol available for every New Zealander aged 15-plus
- 44% of all alcohol is consumed in ‘heavier drinking sessions’
- New Zealanders spend an estimated $85 million a week on alcoholic beverages
- Of the 62,000 violent offences in 2007/2008, more than 20,000 involved alcohol
- Injury accounts for over a third of alcohol’s total contribution to the global burden of disease and disability
- More than 60 diseases and disorders are related to alcohol abuse, including mental illness, cancers, liver disease and alcohol-use disorders
‘Without an increase in excise tax, a lowering of the blood alcohol level and more attention to the marketing and advertising of alcohol, the tragic reality is New Zealanders will continue to suffer and die, and the taxpayer will continue to pay the third party health, social and criminal costs for the alcohol industry,’ Major Roberts says.
The Salvation Army welcomes moves by Government to provide greater powers for communities over liquor licensing, restricting off-license hours, tightening alcohol promotion of off-licenses, and reducing the buying age at off-licenses.
‘But these steps are modest and half-hearted,’ comments Major Roberts. ‘What is needed is the full package of carefully-considered measures recommended by the Law Commission if we are to make any real difference.’
The most effective policy to combat alcohol misuse is the raising the price of alcoholic drinks, a move supported by the World Health Organisation and advocated by the Army in its November 2009 report ‘Excising Excess’. ‘It is extremely disheartening that the Government has not had the courage to raise the price by increasing tax and make what would have been a significant attack on excessive and dangerous drinking,’ Major Roberts says.
‘It is also disappointing that the Government has failed to wholly address the blood alcohol limit for drivers, stop supermarkets using alcohol as a loss leader or universally restrict the advertising and marketing of alcohol.’
Several hundred people took part in a rally in South Auckland on Sunday 15 August calling for comprehensive changes to New Zealand’s alcohol laws. Groups marched from Otara, Manurewa and Manukau to Manukau Square to urge the Government to listen to the community on alcohol reform.
The rally was organised by The Salvation Army and Alcohol Healthwatch. Speakers included Labour leader Phil Goff, Professor Doug Sellman of the National Addictions Centre, Green Party MP David Clendon and National MP Paul Hutchinson.
Professor Sellman voiced concern that the Government was framing the drinking culture as a youth problem when the reality was that the majority of the country’s 700,000 heavy drinkers were adults. Only eight per cent of heavy drinkers were under the age of 20, he said. The alcohol industry, including supermarkets and the advertising sector, generated the majority of their profits from heavy drinkers, so they would ‘fight to the death’ to preserve the status quo, he added.
New Zealanders still have a chance to influence the Government’s proposed legislative changes during the Select Committee process, with Major Roberts suggesting that if amendments don’t occur then alcohol law reform is likely to become a significant election issue.