KEY POINTS:
Bar owners want the Government to ban drunks, rather than further toughen laws on providing alcohol to people who have had enough.
Hospitality Association of New Zealand (HANZ) chief executive Bruce Robertson said banning intoxication would make people responsible for themselves, rather than leaving it in the hands of bar owners and liquor license holders.
"If we want to put a stop to the binge drinking culture in New Zealand then we have to send a clear signal to all New Zealanders that becoming intoxicated is simply not acceptable," he said.
"Currently, the only offence committed around intoxication is if a licensee allows a patron to become intoxicated or be intoxicated on licensed premises."
Mr Robertson's call follows the Government's announcement of the terms of reference for a review of the sale and supply of liquor to under 18-year-olds yesterday.
Justice Minister Mark Burton said the review aimed to determine harm caused by the liquor sales to minors and evaluate the current restrictions.
Currently, there is no legal way do anything about supply of alcohol to under-agers -- it is a crime to sell them booze, but not to supply it.
Possible proposals to deal with underage drinking could include imposing even harsher punishment on those sell liquor to people under-ages and tighter controls on alcohol-supply by family and friends, he said.
But this did not address the problem of the drinkers themselves, Mr Robertson said.
Over 70 per cent of drinking now took place at home and MPs needed to target the community at large, he said.
- NZPA
