Alcohol in Our Lives - Curbing the Harm

The Law Commission Report Alcohol in Our Lives – Curbing the Harm was published at the end of April. The Law Commission held meetings and consultations all over New Zealand and received 2,939 submissions, more than any other project in the 24 year history of the Law Commission. Launching the final report, Sir Geoffrey Palmer said, “Those who enjoy alcohol socially and drink in a low risk manner will be little affected by the Law Commission’s recommendations.

Our reforms are firmly targeted at reducing the harms associated with heavy drinking and drinking to intoxication. To do this we need to ensure that alcohol is promoted, sold and supplied in a manner which better reflects the risks and responsibilities associated with its consumption”. “While the law cannot directly control how people drink, it can ensure the law governing how alcohol is promoted, sold and supplied, better recognises the risks associated with alcohol and discourages abuse.

"Sir Geoffrey Palmer making a keynote presentation at the ALAC Working Together Conference 2010 - Time for Action"

“The subject of our report is a social battleground replete with both passions and prejudices. We have tried to steer a reasonable course around these policy whirlpools and fashion a report that will address the needs of the society as a whole” - Sir Geoffrey Palmer
 

The international evidence was clear that the most effective policies to reduce alcohol-related harm were those which targeted the availability, price and promotion of alcohol. Policies which targeted cheap alcohol were particularly important because research shows low cost alcohol is favoured by young and heavy drinkers”.

The report contains 153 recommendations to Government, intended to work together to reduce alcohol related harm. The key elements of the recommendations are:

• a new Alcohol Harm Reduction Act to replace the Sale of Liquor Act 1989

• increasing the price of alcohol through excise tax increases in order to reduce consumption

• regulating promotions that encourage increased consumption or purchase of alcohol

• moving, over time, to regulate alcohol advertising and sponsorship

• increasing the purchase age for alcohol to 20 years

• strengthening the responsibility of parents supplying alcohol to minors

• increasing personal responsibility for unacceptable or harmful behaviours induced by alcohol

• cutting back the hours licensed premises are open

• introducing new grounds upon which licences to sell alcohol can be declined

• allowing more local input into licensing decisions through local alcohol policies and District Licensing Committees (the bodies we are recommending replace District Licensing Agencies)

• streamlining the enforcement of alcohol laws and placing the overall decision-making in a new Alcohol Regulatory Authority (building on the existing Liquor Licensing Authority) presided over by District Court judges especially selected for the task

• a substantially improved and reorganised system for the treatment of people with alcohol problems.

The report is available at www.lawcom.govt.nz