Peters raising flag for supermarket spirits

By DITA DE BONI

Winston Peters has moved from high tea to the cocktail hour, yesterday lending his name to the fight to have spirits sold in supermarkets.

The newest endorsement comes just a few months after the maverick politician appeared on television in a cheeky plug for Choysa tea.

Addressing key members of New Zealand's liquor industry yesterday, Mr Peters fell short of promising unqualified support for a change to the existing law which bars the sale of spirits in supermarkets, but said the present situation "makes no sense."

Some of those present felt New Zealand First's stance made no sense either, in light of the fact that the party last year voted - unsuccessfully - against the sale of beer in supermarkets.

When questioned about the policy about-face, Mr Peters said that although the party was not in favour of liquor liberalisation, it was in favour of the rationalisation of existing liquor laws.

"There is a lack of class in the presentation of our liquor laws in this country. Why can we go to a supermarket to buy wine for a glass with dinner but not brandy for afterwards?"

"We think the same deal should apply to everyone, no more or less for spirits."

But the Tauranga-based MP could not be drawn on exactly what he would do to advance the cause of the spirits industry, and admitted he had never bought alcohol from a supermarket.

"Frankly, I buy my liquor from a wine shop," he said.

Mr Peters' speech proved definitively that he has emerged from seclusion and is firmly back hiking the campaign trail. He ran the gamut of hot political potatoes in his address, from Maori radicals to "sickly liberalism" to New Zealand's flawed immigration policy.

"You know that something is wrong when the Government is ignoring the needs of small business in favour of issues like same-sex marriage, the decriminalisation of prostitution and closing the gaps, whatever that means," he said.

"For a start, legalised prostitution would never work in this country because we have far too many enthusiastic amateurs."

He said New Zealand First would lower the corporate tax rate and institute direct tax write-offs for research and development.

Distilled Liquor Association chief executive Thomas Chins said the group was "delighted" Mr Peters had signalled his support for the cause.

"It's a straight and easy issue - all we want to see is for spirits to be permitted for sale where wine is legally sold. Currently it's like we go into the marketplace with one hand tied behind our backs."

But Roger Eccles of Alcohol Healthwatch says the mercurial New Zealand First frontman should remember who voted his party into Parliament.

"We would question Mr Peters' integrity and credibility on this issue. Much of his support has come from people who wanted to restrict the availability of all alcohol in supermarkets," he said.

"It appears [New Zealand First] has abandoned some of its key principles."