KEY POINTS:
The Government has the votes to implement measures aimed at tightening the supply of liquor to minors, but even supporters say the changes don't go far enough.
In February, Justice Minister Mark Burton announced a review of the sale and supply of liquor to under-18s.
At the time he said proposals could include imposing harsher punishment on those who sold liquor to underage people and tighter controls on alcohol-supply by others.
Mr Burton is consulting the Maori Party, the Greens, NZ First and United Future about a package of measures, which are understood to include:
* Creation of a new offence for an adult (except a parent or guardian) to supply alcohol to anyone under 18 who goes on to consume alcohol in a public place.
* A new offence for anyone under 18 to supply another minor with alcohol to be consumed in a public place.
* Managers of licensed premises to lose their right to sell alcohol if they are caught selling alcohol to minors three times within three years.
* Zero tolerance of alcohol consumption for drivers aged under 20. The current limit is 30mg for every 100ml of blood, lower than the 80mg limit for over-20s.
* Tighter rules over which documents those selling alcohol can rely on as proof of a young person's age.
* Changing the law to remove reasonable grounds as a defence and requiring sellers to rely on approved proof-of-age documents.
Green Party drugs and alcohol spokeswoman Metiria Turei yesterday said the measures would probably receive the Greens' support. However, they failed to address the main problem, which was the 60 per cent of teens who were supplied alcohol by their parents or guardians.
New Zealand First law and order spokesman Ron Mark also said the changes did not go far enough.
However, the party was likely to support anything that even slightly improved the current situation.
The backing of the two parties would give the Government the majority needed to pass any legislation.
- NZPA
