Billboards push Progressives campaign to lift drinking age

Thinkers not Drinkers - that's the message the Progressive Party is pushing around the country in an attempt to gain public support for its campaign to return the drinking age to 20.

From today, the message will be seen on billboards - which cost the party $128,000 in funds from supporters - in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Progressive leader Jim Anderton said the party's candidates were aiming to lead public debate about the drinking age, which was lowered to 18 in 1999.

Mr Anderton said in Parliament yesterday that feedback from police suggested alcohol still caused the most problems of any drug.

He said misuse of alcohol was emerging as the single biggest cause of pain, suffering and ill-health.

The Progressive Party is campaigning to have the next coalition agreement include a provision to give Parliament an opportunity to re-examine the drinking age.

Mr Anderton, who is chairing public meetings on P, alcohol and other drugs, said international evidence indicated that an increase in the minimum purchase age was one of the most effective measures Parliament could take to reduce youth drinking.

Some of the 16 billboards will display the party's housing and student debt policies.

Today Mr Anderton, the Minister responsible for co-ordinating the Labour-Progressive anti-drugs campaign, will head a community planning day in Murupara. The community will discuss their economic and social challenges as a follow-up to Mr Anderton's visit to the town in June.