Prominent Kiwis call for drinking culture reform

CRAIG SIMCOX/The Dominion Post

LIQUOR LAWS: Sir Paul Reeves says the group will urge the Government "to make the most of the current once-in-a generation-opportunity to find better solutions to our alcohol crisis".Relevant offers
 
PoliticsJail smoking ban riot fears Prominent Kiwis call for drinking culture reform Cabbies fined for tooting their horns in protest Local councils set up bank Why Goff looks safe from a Rudd-style coup Aspiring politician in court over rights case New High Commissioner to Tonga named Colin Craig joins Super City mayoralty race We can learn a lot from Cuba With Gillard's rise, where to now on trans-Tasman agenda? Two former governors-general are among a group of prominent Kiwis calling on politicians to shake up New Zealand's alcohol laws.

Led by former governor-general Sir Paul Reeves, the group will present a six-point statement at Parliament tomorrow, as the Government considers its response to a Law Commission report on alcohol issued earlier this year.

The group includes former governor-general Dame Silvia Cartwright, currently a judge on the Cambodia War Crimes Tribunal, former Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, and Caroline Meyer and Georgina Earl – formerly the Evers-Swindell rowing twins.

National Addiction Centre director Doug Sellman, who helped put the group together, would not reveal who the other members were before the announcement, but said they included dames, knights, archbishops and sportspeople.

Sir Paul said the group would urge the Government "to make the most of the current once-in-a generation-opportunity to find better solutions to our alcohol crisis".

The Law Commission's review of alcohol legislation was a unique opportunity to change New Zealand's drinking culture, he said.

"Positive new alcohol legislation needs to be introduced with urgency to deal with an increasingly out-of- control situation of heavy drinking in New Zealand." The report recommended increasing the tax on alcohol, restricted advertising, raising the drinking age and lowering the legal blood alcohol limit.

Commission president Geoffrey Palmer has urged Parliament to enact the whole package of recommendations "rather than cherry picking the more politically palatable elements". However, Prime Minister John Key has already ruled out an increase in alcohol tax and claimed the public was not in the mood for wholesale change.

Dr Sellman said he believed the Government could be persuaded to change its stance. "If public opinion was such that they want things that actually work, then I'm sure the Government will respond."

The group wanted to make sure the opportunity for change was not wasted, he said. "There's not going to be another Law Commission review. There will be a great sense of disappointment from quite a large chunk of New Zealand if there's not substantial change."

The group's stand follows a statement signed by more than 400 health professionals urging similar changes to those recommended by the Law Commission.