The Last Chance for a Generation Alcohol Law Reform in NZ 2012

The last chance for a generation

Alcohol Law Reform in New Zealand 2012 The last chance for a generation

Alcohol law reform in New Zealand 2012

“This may be the last chance for a generation to address the serious problems of abuse of alcohol.” Dame Silvia Cartwright, Submission to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee, February 2011 Contents

Foreword ...... 3 How did we get here? – Ross Bell ...... 4 Alcohol snapshot 2012 ...... 7 Alcohol milestones in New Zealand ...... 8 It’s our turn to shout! ...... 10 Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer QC, Former Law Commission Chair ...... 12 Hon Lianne Dalziel, Labour MP, Christchurch East ...... 16 Hon Chester Borrows, Former Chair, Justice and Electoral Select Committee ...... 18 Bruce Robertson, Hospitality NZ ...... 20 Doug Sellman, National Addiction Centre ...... 22 How we see things from our front gate, Russell School . . . 24 Marching in Manukau – Rebecca Williams ...... 27 Gerard Vaughan – Former ALAC Chief Executive ...... 30 Quotes ...... 32

Words and most photos by Rob Zorn Cover photo by Matt Crawshaw © 2013 Alcohol Healthwatch and the New Zealand Drug Foundation ISBN: 978-0-473-24011-0 Copies of this document may be requested from [email protected] or [email protected].

2 Foreword

This booklet was produced by Alcohol Healthwatch and the New Zealand Drug Foundation during 2012 as part of the It’s our turn to shout campaign. It is designed to present a range of perspectives documenting alcohol law reform during recent years by interviewing key players or observers about the progress of the Alcohol Reform Bill into law. The nature and quality of liquor legislation can have an enormous impact upon society. For this reason the major review and reform of our alcohol laws, something that happens only once every 20 years, is seen by these two organisations and others as something momentous, significant and worth documenting. We would like to express our thanks to all those who took part in interviews for generously giving us their time and their opinions. We hope this booklet will be read into the future; perhaps it will be a useful resource in another 20 years when we go through this process yet again.

Rebecca Williams, Director Ross Bell, Executive Director Alcohol Healthwatch New Zealand Drug Foundation February 2013 February 2013

3 How did we get here?

Ross Bell, Executive Director The New Zealand Drug Foundation

For the last two decades or communities and no provision was more, communities have been made for communities to have a paying in pain and blood for say over how many local licenses “Put this all together New Zealand’s weak liquor could be granted or where outlets and we end up with a laws. How has it come to this? were located. social environment that We have been steadily liberalising The Sale of Liquor Act also allowed can’t help but promote legislation around alcohol for supermarkets to begin selling and normalise excessive the last century but the most wine, and legislation during the drinking.” significant cause of our current 1990s went even further, allowing woes was the Sale of Liquor Act alcohol advertising back onto 1989. the television and lowering the purchase age from 20 to 18. This legislation was intended to have agreed not to promote such Alongside all this we have a largely help transform our restaurant and things as success with women or unregulated and powerful alcohol café culture, turning New Zealand sport or to show people enjoying industry that successfully lobbies into a tourist haven where good intoxication, but one look at the politicians to protect its profits food and alcohol were available 24 alcohol advertising on TV tells and tries to distract the population hours a day. us they know how to push the with arguments about personal boundaries to the very limits, if not The number of outlets selling responsibility and how you “can’t beyond. alcohol grew rapidly (more than change culture with legislation”. doubling from 6296 in 1990 to Put this all together and we end 14,424 in 2010) and, unfortunately, We let the industry monitor its up with a social environment it wasn’t just the tourists who own advertising and behaviour, that can’t help but promote and began taking advantage of which is an odd thing to do when normalise excessive drinking. And, increased availability. Little the product is as potentially alcohol is everywhere we go and thought was given to the effects harmful as the profit-margins are aggressively marketed as each more outlets would have on potentially high. The industry may company strives to increase its

4 market share. drink. More than 120,000 New This drives prices down (beer Zealanders currently suffer from a “The Law Commission as low as 67 cents per can), and clinically diagnosable alcohol use received nearly 3000 drives pursuit of new products for disorder. submissions... The largest new markets – think ready-mixed The social costs of the way New number ever received alcohol aimed at young girls. Zealanders drink are enormous. on a social issue in New The advertising is everywhere and The burden on society of alcohol- Zealand.” includes sponsorship of sports related harm is estimated at $5.3 and cultural events, social media, billion a year. billboards etc. $150 million is spent But who can put a dollar figure legal limits at 0.08), restricting marketing alcohol each year in on the misery, pain and loss alcohol advertising and returning New Zealand. many New Zealand families suffer the purchase age to 20. So have we become a nation as a result of excessive alcohol By 2008 a number of different Bills of drunks? Maybe that’s an use in terms of family violence, concerning alcohol were being overstatement, but there’s little relationship break-ups, personal reviewed and the government of doubt alcohol has become central tragedies and the loss of loved the time commissioned the first to just about any social gathering. ones? Can you remember the last time major review of liquor laws in 20 you went to a party or dinner and In recent years community years. there was no alcohol present? and public health efforts have challenged consecutive This review was undertaken by the While many New Zealanders governments to change aspects Law Commission, an independent drink responsibly, it seems many of the law, including lowering the advisory body headed by Sir also do not. More than 700,000 legal alcohol limit for driving (we Geoffrey Palmer. The review New Zealanders over 18 binge currently have one of the highest aimed to examine all aspects 5 of the law concerning the sale The Bill was eventually passed and supply of liquor, and make on 11 December 2012, with little “Such a comprehensive recommendations to Parliament. fanfare because, essentially, it overhaul of our liquor laws hadn’t changed from what the Following the 2008 general is something that Government originally proposed. election the new National The opposition just didn’t have the only happens once Government supported the Law numbers to have any influence. in a generation.” Commission’s review and brought the reporting timeframes forward. Nearly 9000 public submissions The Law Commission produced its were received by the Justice final report,Alcohol in Our Lives: and Electoral Select Committee adequate treatment for people Curbing the Harm, in April 2010. in response to the draft Alcohol with alcohol problems. The report contained a ‘mutually Reform Bill. The Government has left open the supportive package’ of 153 The high number of submissions possibility of addressing minimum recommendations covering to both the Law Commission and pricing and lowering the blood issues relating to alcohol pricing, the Select Committee suggest that, alcohol content for drivers in the marketing, licensing, purchase age after decades of liberalisation, the future. Both are proven measures and sale and supply. tide of public opinion was shifting that will reduce alcohol-related harm. It would be good to see a The Law Commission received in favour of tighter control. concrete timeline for action on nearly 3000 public submissions on Such a comprehensive overhaul of these issues. the issue paper. our liquor laws is something that It’s a shame the opportunity to This was the largest number of only happens once in a generation. make a significant difference has submissions ever received on a So have we gone far enough or come and gone. social issue in New Zealand. In have we squandered an important response to the Law Commission’s opportunity? It’s taken us decades to develop report, the Government released our current harmful drinking its draft Alcohol Reform Bill and There are some positives to the culture, and that’s not going to called for public submissions to new legislation, including local be reversed by the mere tinkering the Justice and Electoral Select alcohol policies for communities, around the edges this new Committee. The Bill adopted, in that parents must consent to legislation amounts to. full or in part, 126 of the 153 Law their kids being given alcohol, Let’s hope we can do better in 20 Commission recommendations. and a reduction in the number of years’ time. The Select Committee reported places from which alcohol will be back in August 2011 and the available; but the most important redrafted Bill was supposed to be ways to reduce alcohol-related voted on in September 2012. harm have remained neglected. However, Government delays and For instance, little was included a large number of amendments that would address the low from politicians who believed the price of alcohol, long hours of Bill was now too weak, the vote availability, saturation advertising, was delayed the vote considerably. the purchase age, or providing

6 Alcohol snapshot 2012

These basic facts provide a snapshot of the drinking culture in New Zealand when the Alcohol Reform Bill became law in 2012.

Was it time for reform?

The alcohol industry’s yearly 1000 New Zealanders die each marketing spend is around year as a result of alcohol. $150,000,000.

Alcohol advertising is self-regulated. Alcohol is available 24/7 in most places.

A scene depicting alcohol occurs The cost of alcohol-related harm every nine minutes during prime is around $4.4 billion a year. time television.

In the last decade alcohol has become 60-70 percent of injury-based cases at much more affordable relative to income. emergency departments on weekends are thought to be alcohol-related.

Someone on the average wage More than 300 alcohol-related offences are earns enough to buy the alcohol committed every day. needed to reach the legal driving limit in seven minutes.

275,000 adults set out to get drunk on Police estimate 100 people are their last drinking occasion. charged with drink driving every day.

700,000 New Zealanders have been Our current blood alcohol content limit is categorised as binge drinkers. 80mg per 100ml of blood. Australia’s is 50mg.

1.2 million adult drinkers are okay An adult man can drink a bottle with bingeing. of wine in 90 minutes and still legally be able to drive.

7 Alcohol milestones in New Zealand

Acknowledgement: A form of this timeline first appeared in the New Zealand Drug Foundation’s Matters of Substance, August 2012

Alcoholic Liquors Sale Nationwide Control Act is passed, referendum held on Captain Cook brews Licensing Act is King Country Te Rohe making licensing prohibition of alcohol A law forces pubs beer flavoured with First alcohol tax passed, prohibiting Potae is declared areas consistent with (56 percent vote in to close at 6pm as rimu leaves and bark, First commercial by British Colonial First temperance the sale of liquor a special Māori electorates and al- Masterton declares favour of prohibition, a temporary war- while harboured at brewery is Secretary Lord movement meeting if two thirds of ‘no-license’ district lowing for licensing itself a dry zone and shy of the 60 percent time measure (this Ship Cove in Queen established in Normandy (excludes is held in the Bay of residents petitioned (locals vote to restore polls to be held every all pubs close (none needed for it to remains for the next Charlotte sound Kororareka/Russell beer) Islands against sale licenses in 1954) election reopen until 1946) become law) 50 years) 1770 1835 1839 1863 1873 1884 1893 1909 1911 1917

Workers in Broadcasting A 240,000 signature Votes of 32,000 New Greymouth boycott Drink drive blood New Sale of Liquor Standards Authority BSA allows alcohol petition calling Zealand soldiers local pubs for four- limit of 100mg per Act liberalises liquor (BSA) is established, ads after 9pm in for prohibition returning from WWI and-a-half months Arnold Nordmeyer’s Alcohol can be Six o’clock swill ends 100mls introduced law (supermarkets with one of its roles exchange for free is presented to stop the passage of after they raise the ‘black budget’ served with food in with pubs opening (lowered to 80mg in can sell wine and to review alcohol airtime for alcohol Parliament prohibition price of beer increases tax on beer restaurants until 10pm 1978) 24/7 trading allowed) advertising health promotion 1918 1919 1947 1958 1961 1967 1969 1989 1989 1992

December: ‘Sherry tax’ Government passes is introduced the Alcohol Reform by Economic Bill. Critics say the Development August: Parliament legislation is weak Minister Jim Law Commission August: Government votes to leave the and fails to address Number of off- Anderton, almost Labour Government tables 153 Justice Minister backs down on alcohol purchase age important issues licenses has almost Alcohol purchase doubling the price asks the Law recommendations for Simon Power writes proposal to limit RTD at 18 (68 votes for such as marketing, doubled from 1989 aged lowered to 18 Supermarkets of cheap but high Commission to Parliament to change the Alcohol Reform alcohol content to status quo; 53 back a price, availability and levels years allowed to sell beer alcohol drinks review liquor laws liquor laws Bill 6 percent return to 20) treatment 1995 1999 1999 2003 2007 2010 2011 2012 2012 2012 9 It’s our turn to shout was an ordinary New Zealanders to know for groups and individuals and set initiative launched early in 2010 by that they weren’t alone in being up an online subscription form Alcohol Healthwatch and the New concerned about the harm alcohol so others could join. We sent out Zealand Drug Foundation to help was doing society. By knowing regular pieces for newsletters and individuals and communities have there was a groundswell of public noticeboards and asked the groups a strong voice in the alcohol law opinion towards reform, we hoped to publish them or pass them on. reform debate. individuals and communities would be more motivated and We also had a series of A5 posters The Law Commission had just confident in speaking out. designed that captured our main finished its review of New messages and highlighted the Zealand’s liquor laws and The name social damage caused by excessive Parliament was beginning to The name of the campaign alcohol use. These were printed consider its recommendations. reflected that we believed the and made freely available to The idea was to send a clear public now needed to have the anyone who wanted them. message to New Zealand loudest voice to make sure it was We issued a number of media politicians and decision-makers heard above the alcohol industry releases and opinion pieces about that the public wanted effective which has had the most influence alcohol issues. These were usually and more sensible alcohol laws. in shaping decisions about alcohol published by newspapers, and we It’s our turn to shout encouraged policy in the past. also put them on the It’s our turn community groups to use their to shout blog – along with other networks to motivate members What we did guest articles written by concerned and sought to give them the The Shout team put together a members. We also used Facebook tools to be heard. We wanted large database of contact details and Twitter to encourage online 10 Who was involved? • Sue Bradford (Political Advisor) The core Shout team comprised Rebecca • Lynette Hutson (Addiction Williams (Alcohol Healthwatch), Ross Bell Programme Manager, Salvation (New Zealand Drug Foundation) with Liz Army) Price and Rob Zorn (Communiqué) in a • Mike Ikilei (Community Action on secretariat role. Youth and Drugs) A Steering Group was also established to provide expertise to guide and inform Shout • Ross Henderson (Health activities. The group consisted of: Protection Advisor, Waikato District Health Board) • Matthew Allan (Alcohol Policy Advisor, Allan & Clarke) • Fergus Wheeler (Alcohol Action).

discussion and interest. • communities having a say Bell, media advisors Anna Kenna on licenses and Rob Zorn, and political advisor, Main messages • increasing the availability of ex-Green MP and activist Sue Shout’s main message was that treatment for people with Bradford. New Zealand needed to change its alcohol issues. drinking environment and culture Workshops were held in Whangarei, Auckland, Waikato, because the community is paying Workshops and marches Palmerston North, Wellington, a terrible price for liberal alcohol The Shout campaign also took to laws. The focus was environmental Christchurch and Dunedin. the streets, helping with a march Participants were informed about – on the circumstances that for alcohol reform in Manukau contribute to alcohol abuse, how the parliamentary process (in conjunction with Alcohol works and how to write an public drunkenness and anti-social Healthwatch and other groups). behaviours. It was never about effective submission. blaming individuals. Up to 1000 people attended and Role-plays were held to give heard from various politicians and Some specific targets included: stakeholders the skills and speakers. confidence to present effective • the high number of liquor oral presentations to select outlets We also went on the road organising workshops for committees. • the excessive marketing of stakeholders on how to best use It’s our turn to shout was wound alcohol media opportunities and how to up in July 2012 as, at that time, • the low cost of alcohol make submissions to the Select Parliament’s second reading of the • reducing the blood alcohol Committee. These were led by Alcohol Reform Bill was thought limit Drug Foundation Director Ross imminent. 11 Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer QC

As President of the New “I think it was pretty clear to “The Law Commission is like a Zealand Law Commission everyone there were deficiencies Royal Commission in continuous and having been the Minister in the way the 1989 Act had session and it was the correct body instrumental in creating the worked out. It was just a question to sort out the competing claims in Sale of Liquor Act 1989, Sir of how best to review the law this vexed area.” Geoffrey Palmer was well- to correct those deficiencies. Sir Geoffrey says not everything suited to lead a review of Considering there were at least 14 about the 1989 Sale of Liquor Act New Zealand’s liquor laws, as different ministries or departments was a failure and that it did help requested by the fifth Labour of state with a concern regarding bring about a more sophisticated Government in 2007. alcohol, and that each of these café and restaurant culture, In fact it was Sir Geoffrey himself had differing points of view that something with which he is quite who suggested to Prime Minister had to be reconciled, I thought an pleased. He points out the Act Helen Clark that the review should interdisciplinary team with a range did not lower the purchasing age, be done by the Law Commission. of expertise was required. and that it only allowed wine

On 30 July 2009 the Law Commission held a press conference to release Alcohol in Our Lives, its second of three reports on options for alcohol law reform. This day also marked the start of the Law Commission’s three-month public consultation to canvass the views of ordinary people.

Photo courtesy of Alastair Thompson – Scoop.co.nz

12 “The idea the Law Commission’s recommendations have been adopted is not correct.”

sales in supermarkets (beer in of Parliament to change that this research on alcohol is enormous supermarkets and the purchasing time around is something I think compared with what it was then. age of 18 happened under the New Zealanders will live to regret, In particular there were large Shipley Government in 1999). because it means the drinking amounts of worrying evidence on However, he concedes the Act culture migrates into lower and the health effects of alcohol on helped create a new market for lower age groups. Now we get its consumers. Policy ought to be the alcohol industry, which was people of nine or ten going into research-based. You ought to learn eager to recruit new drinkers. stores and buying alcohol, and from empirical research about Television advertising increased there are documented cases of what the consequences of existing and there was a proliferation that.” laws are and revise them in order of new products aimed at new to reduce the harm. It’s all about markets such as women and young “In our report we included harm reduction.” adults. a number of fundamental Sir Geoffrey said that, as part of “But perhaps the biggest problem points that we argued the research, he and other Law with the Act,” Sir Geoffrey says, were part of an integrated Commission members and staff “is that it created a tendency to package that could not be went out with police in various treat alcohol just like any other cities around the country as they commodity, which increased our cherry-picked.” dealt with the effects of excessive already pronounced tendencies drinking. towards binge drinking. Sir Geoffrey says the Law “Going out with the police at “And this tendency has worsened Commission did a lot of research midnight convinced me we were over time, firstly with the lowering as it set about finding ways to sitting on a social and health of the purchase age, which I think redress the imbalances of 1989. time bomb. People drink lots of was a disastrous decision, the “Going in to this review we were alcohol cheaply at home before consequences of which we are still much better off than we were in they go out and the scenes of reaping. Furthermore, the failure 1989. The amount of social science chaos become very substantial. 13 It’s a problem that imposes enormous costs on the tax payer with the amount of arrests and “As the principal author “The timetable chosen court appearances and associated of the report, I would reflects the lack of difficulties. have to say we’ve priority the Government “The police say it’s the biggest missed a considerable has afforded the alcohol problem they’ve got, that the opportunity and I am issue and, from where amount of crime generated by left with the inevitable I sit, Parliament has let excessive consumption of alcohol conclusion that these New Zealanders down.” is palpable.” issues will have to be Sir Geoffrey says whether or revisited.” not the new legislation could be called successful depends on how you perceive the purpose of the review. more local input into licensing base their views on their personal The Law Commission saw decisions. experiences instead. That’s not an the purpose as producing a “So the idea the Law Commission’s effective way to make policy, but harm reduction Act, but the recommendations have been the politicians have made their Government’s approach has been adopted is not correct. The Law decisions and will need to take one of sale and supply, and the Commission did a great deal of responsibility for them. law, as enacted, takes a much public consultation, so we felt our “On a personal level, I’m more neutral approach to the report represented where the disappointed. You go to the problem than that contained in the public was at on these issues, but I trouble and expense of a two- Law Commission report. think the views of ordinary people year review and reject its most “In our report we included a have not been reflected in the significant recommendations. number of fundamental points decisions taken. Then very few people read it, so that we argued were part of an “Now, of course, I can see why that the research and analysis get lost. integrated package that could not may have occurred. The alcohol “Further, we produced the report be cherry-picked. industry is a large industry with a in April 2010, in accordance with “We said research showed lot of employees. And it is a very the speeded up timetable, and increasing the price of alcohol powerful lobbying group.” we’re now well into 2013 and through excise taxes would reduce At the urging of then Minister none of it, even in its more diluted consumption. Despite there being of Justice Simon Power, the Law form, is yet in force. a wealth of evidence for this it was Commission produced its report “The timetable chosen reflects the rejected. a year ahead of schedule. Had its lack of priority the Government “We said promotions should review gone the full term, a draft has afforded the alcohol issue and, be regulated, especially those Bill would have been included from where I sit, Parliament has let that increased consumption or as part of the report, and, Sir New Zealanders down.” purchase, and that New Zealand Geoffrey says, this would have should move over time to made it much more difficult for the regulate alcohol advertising and recommendations to have been sponsorship. Neither of those ‘slid off’ in the way they were. things was done. “As the principal author of the “We clearly recommended the report, I would have to say we’ve purchase age be increased to missed a considerable opportunity 20 years, and that wasn’t done and I am left with the inevitable either.” conclusion that these issues will Sir Geoffrey says many of the have to be revisited. recommendations that were “But the difficulty is that policy accepted were softened and making, especially on the issue of weakened. These included more alcohol, is not rational. People tend stringent licensing provisions and not to look at the research, and 14 The Reports

The Law Commission review produced a series of three reports.

Alcohol legislation and the conscience vote (May 2009) The first report urged Parliament not to apply the conscience vote to alcohol Bills. It said, due to alcohol’s potential for harmful use, it needed to be treated with great seriousness. With conscience voting, outcomes are unpredictable and amendments more likely, leading to a statute that could “lack coherence and structural logic”. This recommendation was largely followed. Voting was party-based, except on the issue of increasing the purchasing age, which failed to pass. Alcohol in our lives (July 2009) The second report revealed the problems caused by alcohol that the Law Commission’s research had encountered so far. It offered a range of options for dealing with these problems, but conceded submissions still needed to be received and consultations to take place. Alcohol in our lives: curbing the harm (April 2010) The final report set out the Law Commission’s conclusions and made 153 recommendations to the Government on the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in New Zealand. The following quotes are from Alcohol in our lives: curbing the harm. “2015 out of 2939 submissions responded to questions about price and tax. Of these, 76 percent supported introducing a minimum pricing per unit of alcohol and 77 percent supported increasing levels of current excise tax on alcohol.” (page 52) “A wide array of evidence suggests that in response to an increase in prices… per capita consumption of ethanol falls. What’s more, price increases reduce the prevalence of drinking, heavy drinking and bingeing, and appear to reduce the prevalence of dependence and abuse as well.” (page 289) “Alcohol is advertised on television and other media – indicating it’s an ordinary consumer commodity just like any other. Alcohol is sold without a warning label – indicating it’s totally harmless... Liquor companies sponsor sport – leisure activities symbolising health and vitality which are a fundamental component of Kiwi culture…” (page 39) “The contradictory messages surrounding alcohol were raised repeatedly in consultations around the country. In Cannon’s Creek, Porirua, a young mother asked: ‘How can we tell our children that drinking can be harmful when the All Blacks have Steinlager on their chests?’ “In Napier, a community worker asked: ‘You tell us alcohol is causing all this harm and is carcinogenic but how can we expect young people to take this on board when they see that the whole adult world turns on it?’ “In Masterton, a secondary school teacher commented: ‘The key message the industry delivers to our children is that alcohol is the gateway to babes and good times’.”(page 39) 15 Hon Lianne Dalziel Labour MP, Christchurch East Associate Opposition Spokesperson for Justice Associate Minister of Justice 2007-2008

Hon Lianne Dalziel has long people would drink at a bar in the just how drunk they’re getting and been a driving force behind evening, but things were more a lot of damage can result. alcohol law reform, but says, regulated and pubs had to close at “I have a friend at Women’s Refuge she didn’t become involved 10 or 11pm. They might perhaps who says they should name a new for the reasons you might move on to a night club, which had police holding-cell after one of expect. to be closed by 3am at the latest. those drinks, because whenever But now she says it’s like people there’s an incident there’s almost “It was 2007 and Helen Clark had only come into town at midnight, always a collection of this brand’s just done a complete Cabinet already having consumed a lot empty cans lying around,” Ms reshuffle. I had ended up with of alcohol, and it’s common to Dalziel says. the Associate Justice role, and keep drinking and partying until had become concerned with an daylight. “It was like the hour of anomaly in the Sale of Liquor Act “Seeing this first-hand, and midnight had become a which was forcing the owner of the amount of damage and flashpoint when a new a prestigious wine company to degradation it causes, was a real complete a licensed premises’ culture would emerge.” eye-opener. I could see that the manager’s qualification. It was a Sale of Liquor Act, which was ridiculous situation that I wanted But she thinks the biggest contrib- supposed to usher in this culture to change, so I asked to be in uting factors are price and avail- of mature Kiwi drinkers, ‘the café charge of the liquor portfolio. ability. Alcohol is accessible 24 society’, had in fact had quite the hours a day at discount prices and “In that capacity I was invited to opposite effect.” supermarkets have been driving speak at an ALAC conference, She says there are at least three down the price of wine and beer, so I started to do some research things that have helped push which has impacted on the overall in preparation. I arranged to drinking to the level it’s at today. price, and fuelled pre-loading. go out on patrol one evening in The first is the way alcohol is “So when the Government passed Christchurch, with Police Sergeant advertised. It’s promoted so on significant alcohol law reform Al Lawn, the officer in charge of aggressively, and deliberately opportunities, the grocery indus- the Canterbury Police Alcohol targeted at specific demographics, try’s one of the ones laughing Strategy and Enforcement Team, such as young males, or new loudest. as well as Martin Ferguson with markets, such as women or even the District Licensing Authority. “That’s an important point. People younger drinkers. think those opposing alcohol law “I was shocked to see how drinking Second is the deception in the reform are the alcohol or hospital- had changed. It was like the drinks themselves, specifically pre- ity industries, but we also get a lot hour of midnight had become a mixed RTDs where the alcohol is of opposition from other industries flashpoint when a new culture hidden behind sugar and caffeine, like marketing, where there’s a would emerge.” which means people don’t get to huge alcohol spend, and even from Ms Dalziel says in her younger days taste the alcohol and aren’t aware the media because alcohol adver- 16 “In 10 years’ time we are going to be wringing our hands as we look back at this Act, agonising over why we didn’t do more.”

tising is so lucrative.” given for not going further when emergency operations Ms Dalziel thinks, the Government towards reform is that ordinary take precedence – some of them has indeed passed on taking up New Zealanders should not be caused by drunk drivers. opportunities that may not arise penalised for the sake of those “People say they don’t want their again for a long time, and says it’s who are problem drinkers, but cities awash with drunken people quite bewildering they’ve chosen argues that we’re all already who stagger around the streets to ignore popular opinion and sharing the problem. and vomit in the gutter in the early the wealth of strong evidence in hours of the morning – causing favour of reform. “People often ask me why trouble or becoming the victims of “Effectively nothing has really been politicians won’t make crime; or their streets littered with done to change or address the change, and the answer is broken bottles, or their letterboxes problem. In 10 years’ time we are simple: we lack courage, trashed in the wee small hours; going to be wringing our hands as and we always will until and yet those very same people we look back at this Act, agonising we are prepared to stand say, ‘Don’t take away my right to over why we didn’t do more. buy cheap alcohol in the most up to the powerful vested convenient way’. We cannot have “The failure to lower the blood- interests who control the alcohol content limit for driving is it both ways. agenda.” just one of many examples. People “It’s an attitude we must address, are legally allowed to drive drunk “We just pay the price in our taxes but the Government is too scared in this country. It’s unacceptable, being spent on police, courts and to tackle it. People often ask and the public seems very much hospitals. And then we complain me why politicians won’t make in favour of lowering the limit, but when the police can’t attend to change, and the answer is simple: the Government has completely burglaries because they’re are in we lack courage, and we always left BAC levels out of the town dealing with alcohol-fuelled will until we are prepared to stand equation.” violence. We complain about up to the powerful vested interests She says the reason most often elective surgery being postponed who control the agenda.” 17 Hon Chester Borrows National MP for Whanganui Minister for Courts, Associate Minister of Justice, Associate Minister for Social Development Former Chair of the Justice and Electoral Select Committee

Associate Minister of Justice Act which set out to abolish the he says, is that it ran counter to Hon Chester Borrows, who right to use force when disciplining everything that’s happened before. chaired the Justice and Elector- children,” he says. For the last 80 years New Zealand al Select Committee’s oversight has been liberalising its liquor “However, with Section 59 the of the Alcohol Reform Bill, says laws. This is the first time we’ve set weight of public reaction was a few things about the Bill about constraining them. towards keeping the status quo. that really stood out. The first Submissions on the Alcohol Reform was a virtually unprecedented “I think that reaction took a lot of Bill overwhelmingly indicated amount of public interest. my colleagues in Parliament by there was a real public mood for surprise. Politicians have generally change.” “The only other Bill I could sensed a public warmth towards compare it to would be the one What was especially interesting liberalising alcohol laws, and have to repeal Section 59 of the Crimes about the Bill’s huge traction, wanted to avoid coming across as

In memory of the thousands...

Minister Borrows says a thought-provoking gift he received as Chair of the Justice and Electoral Select Committee is a beer bottle made out of solid granite. “It’s very heavy, and meant to represent the weighty decisions we have to make regarding alcohol.” The bottle bears the inscription: In memory of the thousands of New Zealanders who lost their lives, childhood, safety, health, wellbeing, security and family… to the bottle.

18 “You know, we’ve actually acted positively on the majority of the recommendations, and every action we take will be a positive step forward.”

wowsers. in people’s lives. These were often revoke their licenses too, but quite moving but, unfortunately, they’re not contributing to the “But it seems we’ve gone past that he says, you can’t make laws on problem. There aren’t teenagers now, and the pendulum has swung the basis of people’s tragic stories. popping in to get pissed on cheap back.” booze because everything they sell On the other hand, some The Select Committee received is expensive.” anecdotes can present real submissions from just about challenges to how to write the law. The Minister is well aware of every segment of society. Some criticisms levelled at the National “For example, it’s logical that were well-informed, such as Government for not having acted revoking alcohol licenses for the one by Dr Paul Quigley from on all the Law Commission’s convenience stores would reduce the emergency department at recommendations, but says he’d access to alcohol, and therefore Wellington Hospital. like to see people concentrate alcohol misuse. However, what “He’s at the sharp end of the more on what has been achieved. about that small town where problem, and sees, better and there’s a single store that sells “You know, we’ve actually acted more often than most, the general and farming goods, and positively on the majority of the problems alcohol causes.” the guy is running a small bottle recommendations, and every But Minister Borrows says the store on the side. There’s good action we take will be a positive most compelling were the pleas reason not to interfere with this. step forward. from so many communities Revoking his license would mean “People also need to remember wanting better local control over people for miles around would no this is the first time in 80 years where and how alcohol is sold and longer have access to alcohol. And that we’ve tried to take a step supplied. that’s just one anomaly. backwards with regards to alcohol And there were any number “The same goes for small boutique law. We didn’t liberalise alcohol of anecdotal submissions from cafes that sell quality imported laws overnight, and the pendulum families and individuals about the beers, for example, alongside won’t swing all the way back in havoc alcohol misuse can wreak gourmet food. You’d have to one hit either.” 19 Bruce Robertson CEO, Hospitality NZ

Hospitality NZ CEO Bruce did 20 years ago and, despite the in the last 20 years from 40 Robertson says he feels a bit number of alcohol outlets having percent down to just 25 percent like the lone voice of reason almost trebled in the last 20 of sales because pubs and bars amidst all the hype around years, data shows there’s been no can’t compete with supermarkets’ alcohol reform. corresponding increase in sales. ability to absorb or avoid tax or wholesale price increases. “So we’re actually not drinking He doesn’t deny there are some This means there is much more more these days, but there’s serious problems with alcohol unsupervised drinking happening nothing shocking about that so you abuse in New Zealand, but today than ever before. says the whole issue has been won’t hear the media reporting it.” sensationalised by the media, However, Bruce concedes there “This is why it makes no sense leading us to believe things are have been changes to the way for the new legislation to target much worse than they are in some of us are drinking. He says on-license premises. We’re much reality the notion of going out or buying better off having people drink in “Media exposure has really booze with the express purpose environments where there’s a exacerbated the sense that of getting drunk is a reasonably responsible bar manager in charge, excessive drinking is wreaking all new thing, and he lays a large part and the vast majority of them are this havoc, but it’s really no worse of the blame for that on cheap just that. than it’s been in the past. alcohol available at supermarkets. “But now they face increased “The facts are we have fewer He points out that consumption restrictions and penalties that will under-18s drinking now than we at licensed premises has dropped make it even harder for them to operate. They only have 25 percent market share right now, so how much difference can concentrating on them really be expected to make?”

Bruce agrees getting alcohol out of supermarkets is now probably a bridge too far but says Hospitality NZ’s suggestion about minimum alcohol pricing has largely been ignored. He says minimum pricing would help restore a balance of power by preventing supermarkets from selling alcohol at bargain prices and make drinking to get drunk a less likely option, 20 “The whole alcohol law reform debate has been very academic and philosophical, and it’s quite naïve to think you’re going to change society with legislation and without addressing personal responsibility.”

especially for young people. licensing, and the risk is they’ll get captured by rampant evangelistic He says Hospitality NZ made a wowsers who could effectively “Basically, you’re going number of other suggestions to hurt legitimate businesses that are the Law Commission review that to have these little actually good for the community. have also gone unheeded. committees deciding on licensing, and the risk is “We suggested that if alcohol is “The other danger is lack of bad for the brain development of consistency. If you have each local they’ll get captured by minors, as the science seems to authority doing its own thing in rampant evangelistic indicate, then why not introduce terms of licenses and opening wowsers...” a minimum drinking age? If it’s hours there’s going to be a lot of an offence for people under 18 to confusion for patrons.” drink, parents would find it much But perhaps Bruce’s biggest easier to say no to their children, frustration is that he doesn’t think and their kids wouldn’t be harmed the Law Commission report, the “The whole alcohol law reform by drinking when they’re too new legislation, or any of those debate has been very academic young.” calling loudest for reform give and philosophical, and it’s quite Bruce is all for communities sufficient weight to personal naïve to think you’re going to having more say in what goes responsibility. change society with legislation on within and around them, and without addressing personal For example, Hospitality NZ has but he thinks the way the new responsibility,” he says. said that if we’re concerned about legislation ‘abdicates’ power to behavioural change and sending a “Instead of concentrating on what local authorities could have some message that excessive drinking is will actually work, we’ve opted for unfortunate consequences. not okay, then we should reinstate making hard-working licensees the “Basically, you’re going to have the offence of being drunk in easy target and nothing is really these little committees deciding on public. going to change as a result.” 21 Doug Sellman Director, National Addiction Centre University of Otago, Christchurch

In 2009 a group of academics, “Education campaigns have very glamorous, but there’s complete namely Doug Sellman little effect and the hope that silence about its realities, for and Jennie Connor from individuals will spontaneously example the aggressigenic, the University of Otago begin to act more responsibility is neurotoxic and carcinogenic and Capital & Coast DHB just wishful thinking.” nature of alcohol, and then there’s Chief Medical Officer Geoff To nationally launch AANZ, Doug the industry’s dubious business Robinson, established Alcohol went on sabbatical and took to practices, such as targeting young Action NZ (AANZ). the road with a series of lectures people. AANZ was an initiative in response entitled Ten things the alcohol “From the outset we knew we to the growing national alcohol industry won’t tell you about were on a collision course with crisis. The group was convinced by alcohol. He toured from Kaitaia the industry. Their own internal the evidence that Government-led to Invercargill sharing the alcohol documents show they see alcohol law reform is key to reduc- industry’s secrets and encouraging alcohol reform as a major threat, the public to start their own ing alcohol-related harm. specifically through tax increases, Alcohol Action initiatives in advertising restrictions, health “Over the past 20 years Govern- support of alcohol law reform. warnings, lowering blood alcohol ment has allowed the alcohol “We wanted to focus the lecture concentrations for driving, sales industry immense freedom to mar- series on the industry because restrictions and increasing the ket and sell a Class B equivalent we knew it was a major barrier to legal drinking age.” drug 24 hours a day and advertise effective change,” Doug says. it on national television. At the It’s not surprising that these are The lecture series title was chosen same time the industry has tried to virtually the same elements that to draw attention to the deception absolve itself of all responsibility make up AANZ’s 5+Solution, which he says the industry perpetuates for the problems caused by alcohol is based on international evidence about its product. by blaming them on a fantasy ‘ir- on what works in terms of alcohol responsible minority’, Doug says. “We’re led to believe alcohol is reform according to the World Health Organization’s publication THE 5 + SOLUTION Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity. 1. Raise alcohol prices. Doug delivered the lecture 43 times in 30 different cities with 2. Raise the purchase age. nearly 5000 people attending. 3. Reduce alcohol accessibility. As a result AANZ grew to having 40 active network members and 4. Reduce advertising and sponsorship. a mailing list of around 4000 5. Increase drink-driving countermeasures. supporters. PLUS: Increase treatment opportunities for Doug can think of a few reasons heavy drinkers. AANZ has been so successful in engaging public support. 22 “The industry has tried to absolve itself of all responsibility for the problems caused by alcohol by blaming them on a fantasy ‘irresponsible minority’.”

“First, the name has been good, integrity. We made sure scientific and that was Jennie’s idea. Alcohol evidence underpinned everything Action sounds like something we said, and that helped us to be “The Government has positive is going to happen rather taken seriously.” allowed the alcohol than that you’re just a group that Doug has also learned a few other industry to market and sell talks about the problem. significant things. a Class B equivalent drug “Also, working alongside the Law “It’s important to be a part of a Commission’s review of alcohol team that enjoys spending time 24 hours a day.” legislation worked well. Being together, as well as being well- government-initiated, the review supported at home. It can be generated an enormous amount of times by multiple sources to tough when you’re weathering change the system.” momentum and publicity, and we verbal abuse from the industry, just got into the slipstream. being called a lunatic, a wowser or Doug is very disappointed with the an extremist. extent to which the new legislation “Being academics, we would has addressed the issues so far, but normally have seen media “Another thing I value is the big remains optimistic. relations as a relatively low priority picture perspective and the well- “Despite this current government’s or avoided them completely, but known Churchillian exhortation: determination to please their we were determined to use the ‘Never, never, never give up’. Just alcohol industry masters and pass media to help get the nation’s because you have a good idea an Alcohol NON-Reform Bill, the attention. We spent a lot of time doesn’t mean you can influence public has been aroused and three- contacting the media, issuing the public discourse. releases and generally being quarters of New Zealanders want available. “The trick is to work hard, make strong alcohol reform. That degree your ideas clear and communicate of support will inevitably drive “As senior academics we were able them strongly. Often good ideas effective change to New Zealand’s to build a reputation for scientific have to be repeated a thousand damaging drinking culture.” 23 How we see things from our front gate

In 2011, Russell School became the centre for one small neighbourhood’s battle. Its success in reducing harm from a poorly managed local liquor store shows what can be achieved when communities engage and mobilise.

The presence of Fantame in the playground that kids could the shop’s marketing on them. Liquor almost right across the find, and there would frequently Board of Trustees Chair Matt road from Russell School in be broken bottles, smashed Crawshaw says Fantame Liquor’s Cannon’s Creek as long been a windows and other vandalism. advertising was very aggressive, source of concern for parents “But even during school hours especially around ready-mixed and the Board of Trustees. people would come onto the drinks. Principal Sose Annandale says grounds intoxicated or carrying the store was open until midnight boxes of alcohol they’d just “The shop front was completely most days and people would come purchased. One person even plastered with colourful posters from all over wider Wellington urinated in the playground while and there would sandwich boards because it was the only place kids were being taught physical all over the footpath extolling the selling alcohol that late. education.” virtues of alcopops. “They would hang around into the Damage at the school costs the “Teachers walking kids to wee small hours and the school taxpayer about $60,000 a year, swimming lessons would hear grounds became the obvious place but it’s the dangers to the pupils them talking about how ‘yum’ to drink. In the morning there that are most alarming and these the drinks looked and saying would be cans half full of alcohol include the normalising effects of which ones they’d tried. These are primary school kids!” When Fantame Liquor’s off-license renewal was due in August 2011, the school community saw it as an ideal opportunity. If they couldn’t have the store shut down, perhaps at least they could have its hours curtailed. What they did Matt and others formed a core stakeholder group and began up- skilling themselves to effectively oppose the license renewal. They attended some workshops by the It’s our turn to shout campaign about how to come across well in the media and how best to write a Matt Crawshaw and Sose Annandale submission. 24 Thirsty Liquor, previously Fantame Liquor, is virtually right across the road from Russell School.

The group decided to hold a public organisations like the Drug “...Talking about how ‘yum’ meeting for all those concerned to Foundation, ALAC and Regional help bring about a collective ‘show Public Health, members of the the drinks looked and of force’. They knocked on doors group sat outside the store until saying which ones they’d throughout the neighbourhood midnight a few times so they tried. These are primary inviting people to the meeting would have personal eye-witness school kids!” and delivered flyers to about 1000 accounts of the sorts of things that households. happened. “So many people I spoke to had They studied the relevant across that this is not the sort of stories about the damage being legislation and did some research community we want for our kids, done through the store’s bad to see whether the proprietor was where excessive drinking is seen management. This showed we of sufficient good character to hold as normal and they have to wake were on the right course, that the a liquor license. It turned out the up every day with cans stacked on community was eager for a chance store had twice been caught selling their lawn,” Matt says. to speak up,” Matt says. alcohol to minors and had already What happened Sixty people attended the initial been sanctioned for excessive What happened at the November meeting which is a lot for such a advertising. hearing came as a devastating small community. At the meeting The school community also made blow. Halfway through proceedings real effort went into educating submissions to both the Law it was discovered the proprietor people about how to make a good Commission review and the Justice was illegally operating his liquor submission to the District Licensing and Electoral Select Committee. outlet and grocery store under the Authority, and templates were These focused mainly on the same license, so the hearing was given to those who needed them. harmful effects of having a liquor adjourned before the community All in all they managed to get 88 outlet so close to a school and had a chance to have any say. objections launched against the were themed, ‘How we see things It took more than five months renewal. from our front gate’. to get a second hearing. In the Following advice from “We wanted to get our point meantime, the store’s lawyers 25 Fantame Liquor becomes Thirsty Liquor and aggressive marketing is removed just before the first hearing. Matt suspects joining the Thirsty Liquor franchise was a ploy to convince the authority the store could be trusted

got the legal situation sorted and now also has to shut 2.45-3.15 opposition, the judge denied the Fantame Liquor began trading pm on weekdays to protect pupils application and the store never again as normal. It did, however, travelling home from school. opened. remove its aggressive advertising Presiding judge John Hole said and rebranded under the Thirsty here was considerable evidence Liquor franchise (which Matt of bad management at the store “There’s this feeling now finds a powerfully unfortunate leading to liquor abuse. that, whatever comes our statement – associating alcohol Principal Sose Annandale says the way, we’re ready for it.” with thirst, right across the road findings were a really important from the school). statement to the community. Jenny Lester, Chair of the Porirua “The hearing result was really “It seems like things have been Alcohol and Drug Cluster which bewildering and we felt completely righted. Now the bottle store has organised the march, said deflated,” Matt says. to shut in deference to the school, these two instances have had a “The store was acting illegally, rather than the school having to significant positive influence at a yet it got to carry on while the defend itself against the bottle local level. community had to wait. The whole store.” “First of all it’s like people legal process felt hostile and our Matt, who lives near the school, have become very aware. They little community just felt it had says the vibe of the whole realise now that alcohol abuse is been slapped down and ignored neighbourhood is now much something that affects the whole yet again.” better. community; not just the school or The community also found the “You can walk down the street those involved with the violence. second hearing in early May at 8pm and not feel threatened. “But, they’ve also seen that it is 2012 intimidating. They were There’s this huge sense of worth standing up for what you not allowed to speak to their peacefulness now, like there believe in, and that things really submissions or address any new should be, and people comment can change when communities act matters that had arisen, yet it about it all the time.” with a united will.” seemed the proprietor’s lawyers But the Fantame success was Matt Crawshaw agrees the could speak all day. They came not the first for the Porirua away very despondent – thinking initiatives have resulted in some community. In 2008 an application real community building. no one was listening and that was filed to open another bottle nothing was going to change. store in Cannon’s Creek, directly “There’s this feeling now that, But the result showed they had opposite another primary school whatever comes our way, we’re indeed been heard and the and just 500 metres from another ready for it. community was elated. Its license bottle store. The community “We can’t wait for May when was renewed but Fantame Liquor’s collected signatures and organised Thirsty Liquor’s annual license closing times were restricted to a well attended march on the day renewal comes up, and we’re 8pm Monday-Friday, 9pm on the application was heard. already talking about what sort of Saturday, and 6pm on Sunday. It Overwhelmed by the public shop should replace it.” 26 Marching in Manukau Rebecca Williams, Director Alcohol Healthwatch

In August 2010 as many as Doug Sellman of the National 1000 people braved the wintry Addictions Centre, who spoke “New Zealanders love a weather to attend a march in about the 10 things the industry good march, and there’s Manukau calling for alcohol law doesn’t want the public to know no better way of uniting reform. about alcohol in Manukau as part of a nationwide tour. the public to express The public march and rally was concern in a highly visible organised by the Manukau “At his presentation Professor Alcohol Action Group (MAAG), Sellman encouraged communities way.” The Salvation Army and other to form alcohol action groups, concerned individuals. and some of those attending went MAAG Co-ordinator, Alcohol on to form the Manukau Alcohol Healthwatch Director Rebecca Action Group (MAAG). Williams, says the community “We were looking for ways efforts became more co-ordinated through which the public could following a lecture by Professor demonstrate their concerns about 27 alcohol and express their desire for very helpful and supportive. reform. We co-ordinated with The “We needed to book venues, Salvation Army, who were thinking advertise and promote the march, the same way, and decided to hold organise security, figure out the a march. time and place and plan the route. “It’s important to identify key local There were so many logistics, and groups or members in an initiative we were running on a shoestring like this. Find people in your area budget. Thankfully, we received a who have a common interest and lot of help. Friendship House, for invite their participation in your example, opened up on a Sunday event and planning processes. so we could use one of their rooms as a hospitality centre.” “There’s a lot more to A significant challenge was organising a successful publicising the march. Without the march than one might money to launch an advertising expect.” campaign, informing the public and getting people to commit “Leadership is also really to the march was no easy task. important. While local involvement Organising committee members is essential, you need people with worked with their local community the expertise to handle media and organisations, mobilising their frame arguments to fit the purpose networks to generate a crowd. you are trying to achieve.” They also contacted the local Green MP David Clendon and Manukau Courier, which ran a National MP Dr Paul Hutchinson. Rebecca says there’s a lot more to number of community notices Guest speakers included Professor organising a successful march than about the march, and even Doug Sellman and Major Campbell one might expect. featured the upcoming march on Roberts of the Salvation Army. But, “The first thing we did was develop their front page. of course, having speakers meant an action plan. One of the first they also had to hire a stage and The team used Alcohol tasks was to communicate with the organise power and sound. police and council. We wanted to Healthwatch, The Salvation Army “Despite only having a very small be open and clear from the very and others’ media contacts to get budget, we had a pretty incredible beginning about what we were a couple of media releases out and media turnout,” Rebecca says. planning, and we asked about each political party was invited to what permissions were needed speak, which served as another “The march featured on the and sought their advice about how ‘attention-grabber’ for the media. news on TV1, TV3 and Radio New to hold the march safely. We found Politicians who spoke included Zealand, and we got into most of both the council and the police then Labour Leader Phil Goff, the major newspapers. That level

28 of coverage helped convey the wanted to express were really reasonably smoothly because of message to New Zealanders that visible. A large banner was printed the action plan they’d made and if they think alcohol laws have that read: ‘ALCOHOL LAW REFORM the hard work of group members become too liberal, they’re not NOW!’ – the slogan for the march. and their community networks. alone and they should speak up.” On the day of the march the “New Zealanders love a good “Several hundred to weather was pretty cold and march, and there’s no better way miserable, but anywhere from of uniting the public to express 1000 people mobilised to several hundred to 1000 people concern in a highly visible way. express their desire for mobilised to express their desire “It’s a lot of work and there’s much alcohol law reform.” for alcohol law reform. to organise, but it’s highly effective More than 30 Māori wardens also A few days before the march, the if you get it right.” attended to provide security, guide organising committee got together people along the route and make to make signs for marchers who sure of everyone’s safety. didn’t have their own, and to make sure the key messages they Rebecca says the whole day went

29 Gerard Vaughan ALAC Chief Executive 2007-2012

ALAC was formed in 1976 as an on encouraging public discussion autonomous Crown entity to around the problem of alcohol and provide evidence-based advice its potential solutions. This in- “If the thought is that this to Government and other cluded informing all major players is it for the next 20 years, parties about reducing alcohol within the alcohol-reform debate harm. 1 about research findings on things then, yeah, we really have “I think ours was quite an impor- like drinking patterns, pricing, missed that ‘once in a marketing and density of alcohol tant contribution to the law reform generation’ opportunity.” process, particularly because of outlets – and their relationship to our autonomous voice. There was harm. no benefit to us from the policies ALAC was also active in the alcohol the application process for liquor we formed, other than that they policy debate before the current licences, and community problems would reduce harm,” ALAC’s last reforms began, particularly during such as those faced by Russell CEO Gerard Vaughan explains. the 2005 introduction of Labour’s School (see pages 24-26) began “Our positions did at times create Sale of Liquor (Youth Alcohol Harm hitting the media spotlight. tensions with different groups, Reduction) Amendment Bill which “ALAC’s view at this time was but that comes with the territory. sought to raise the purchasing age that, although important, there Even so I think most acknowledged to 20 and strengthen provisions was much more to New Zealand’s the value of having advice and around supplying alcohol to alcohol problem than just youth research from an organisation like minors. At the same time George drinking and community say,” ALAC widely available.” Hawkins’ Private Member’s Bill Gerard says. In the very early stages of the law proposed introducing community “We believed in a broad package reform ALAC’s main focus was say and social impact as part of of reforms that would work together, and we thought issues like marketing, and particularly pricing, needed much more attention.” The ALAC produced series of controversial television adver- tisements also helped increase awareness and debate about alcohol. They included one where a drunken Uncle Mark accidentally swings a young boy into a wall and another which ominously suggests intoxicated Lisa was about to be ALAC’s Uncle Mark sexually molested in an alley. 30 “They were not pleasant ads and advice increased as interest groups end of the process. there was a bit of an uproar from and communities impacted by “After more than 20 years of some about the content, but I alcohol harm began asking more liberalising, it’s hard to introduce think they were successful in questions about the nature of all the needed restrictions at once. waking people up to the real and the problem and its solutions. People get used to things like being widespread consequences of the This was also an opportunity for able to buy alcohol cheaply and way many New Zealanders were ALAC to work closely with the Law whenever they want, and it takes drinking,” Gerard says. Commission review, putting it in time to bring in extended change. ALAC’s media profile increased contact with the wide range of So there’s still a lot to be done to with Gerard often doing three or people, groups and communities it get the right mix of laws on issues four interviews a day about the wanted to hear from. like marketing and pricing. wider social problems associated With debate now chugging along “But there are many positives to with alcohol. It was a busy but under its own steam, ALAC was the new legislation, especially successful time. able to spend more time meeting the community oriented aspects, “It was great to see how the media with MPs and staff from Govern- so it’s a good first step. If the picked up on the issues. They ment departments like the Min- understanding is there are more weren’t just reactively reporting on istry of Justice, helping them “get changes to come, then there’s alcohol stories following incidents, their heads around the issues”. been a measure of success. But they actually began to take a pro- Gerard thinks that whether the if we think this is basically it for active interest in alcohol, seeking new alcohol legislation is a success the next 20 years, then, yeah, we a broader range of stories and dig- or a failure depends on whether really have missed that ‘once in a ging deeper into the problem and it’s seen as the beginning or the generation’ opportunity.” perspectives on solutions.”

With greater media interest, 1. In July 2012, the functions of ALAC, along with those of the Health Sponsorship Coun- public debate gained momentum. cil and other services delivered by the Ministry of Health, were combined under the new Opportunities for ALAC to provide Crown Entity, the Health Promotion Agency. 31 “Every time it goes down to the politicians, they seem to get cold feet.” “Before, the ones who Alcohol Healthwatch Director came to ED were just Rebecca Williams, Close Up, May 2012 the ones who didn’t have tolerance. It was often just the weaker one who falls over. But now, they intended to get smashed, to get wasted. Now getting drunk is their goal.” “Unless a comprehensive approach is taken to addressing the problems that Wellington ED Doctor Paul Quigley to Newswire, alcohol poses for New Zealand society, those problems will not be solved.” March 2012 Sir Geoffrey Palmer, address to ALAC Conference, May 2010

“Current BAC limits are ‘ridiculous’.”

Minister of Transport Hon Steven Joyce “Alcohol is destroying our speaking to a Local Authority Traffic Institute community. I work with conference in Auckland, September 2009 families, and we can see the damage to them, to their children and to the wider community. I see it in the courts, the hospitals, the “As a former MP, I know how family violence.” powerful the alcohol lobby can be – the fridge in my office was A community worker in Otara constantly full of free beer.” speaks out at a consultation Deborah Coddington, meeting with the Law Commission, 2010 New Zealand Herald, May 2010

“At the Lion Red fishing “If we really want to change our drinking culture, contest... you see like we need to address the environment in which slaughtered people, our young people are continually bombarded by absolutely trolleyed, and sophisticated marketing messages that blatantly it’s just awesome!” associate alcohol with social, sporting and sexual success and encourage heavy consumption.” (Mark, 15-years-old) New Zealand Drug Foundation, 2011

32 “This may be the last chance for a generation to address the serious problems of abuse of alcohol.” Dame Silvia Cartwright, Submission to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee, February 2011