Law won't end bingeing, say critics

Scenes such as this spurred the rethink in Parliament on the drinking age. Picture / Nicola Topping

Banning 18-year-olds from buying alcohol again will not be enough to dent the binge-drinking culture, supporters of a law change concede.

Prospects of a change improved yesterday when a parliamentary committee recommended raising the legal purchasing age to 20, its pre-1999 level. It also said alcohol advertising on television should be restricted to between 10pm and midnight.

Supporters - including the Drug Foundation, Alcohol Health-watch and the Alcohol Advisory Council - hailed the committee's report as a positive step.

Alac chief executive Dr Mike MacAvoy said the report sent a strong signal against the binge-drinking culture, but it raised questions of enforcement.

"Those aged between 18 and 20 can still be on licensed premises with a legal guardian, a former guardian, a spouse or a civil union partner ... Any exemption makes it difficult to enforce, and enforcement is absolutely vital to the effectiveness of the act."

He said raising the age would be an encouraging start, but only a small step towards changing New Zealanders' booze-loving attitudes.

"Unless we change the whole drinking culture, we're not likely to get any massive change in drinking behaviour. It's a myth that raising the age will resolve all the problems."

Opponents of a law change, including the Greens and the Hospitality Association, dismissed the findings as unjust and missing the point.

The committee split the legislation into two. The two bills will go back to the debating chamber for a conscience vote next month, then return to the committee and have to pass a third reading before becoming law.

Under the proposed bill, 18- and 19-year-olds would be able to work on licensed premises, but only drink in bars and restaurants in the company of their parents, guardians or legal partners aged over 20.

Green Party MP Metiria Turei lambasted the report as careless and feeble.

"Part of the argument for raising the age is that, at present, 14- to 17-year-olds have more access to alcohol. But the report says 87 per cent of them are supplied by parents, and so the bill makes specific allowance for parents to continue that."

The bill would do little to curb the harm alcohol was causing young people.

"If the excuse is underage drinking, then deal with that. Don't punish 18- and 19-year-olds because parents are supplying 15-year-olds with alcohol."

She said it was ridiculous if 18-year-olds, who could get a firearms licence or become members of Parliament, could work in pubs but not drink there.

"They can serve and supply alcohol, perform in a band, but once that performance is over, they have to leave."

Hospitality Association chief executive Bruce Robertson called the recommendations patronising.

"The majority of 18- and 19-year-olds consume alcohol in a safe and responsible manner and the suggested changes will hammer them unfairly."

The committee considered 180 submissions, of which 81 supported raising the age and 61 opposed it.


Proposed bill

* Raises legal purchasing age from 18 to 20.

* 18 and 19-year-olds can drink on licensed premises only if accompanied by parents, guardians or legal partners aged over 20. They can still work in bars and licensed restaurants.

* Parents can still supply alcohol to their children, and people can supply minors for private gatherings.


Youthful split

* Ben Schon, 21, Grey Lynn
I think it should go back up to 20. The youth of today just can't seem to handle it. You only have to look at the destruction that has gone with it.

* Cassie Abbott, 15, Central Auckland
I don't think changing it now is going to make much of a difference. They should just leave it the same. How much difference is changing the age really going to make?

* Kerran MacDonald, 22, Auckland city
It has to go back up, I believe. There's just been too many issues with it. The 18-year-olds can't deal with it. The maturity just isn't there.

* Rebecca Crotty-Jones, 16, Mt Albert
I want it to stay at 18. It is like the Government doesn't trust us. Eighteen-year-olds can sign contracts and whatever else.