Alcohol reforms don’t get to heart of the issue

Alcohol reforms don’t get to the heart of the issue

New Zealand Christian Network (visionnetwork), who made a submission to the Law Commission on alcohol reform, supports the general direction of the Law Commission’s recommendations just released, but says they don’t address the root cause of our binge-drinking culture.

National Director Glyn Carpenter says the report highlights the balance needed between regulation and personal responsibility, but there is a need for a significant shift in regulation to break the drinking culture and its associated health and social problems.

Mr Carpenter says the missing element in the debate over alcohol has been the spiritual vacuum that underlies much of New Zealand’s drinking culture among young people, in particular.

“We believe that this neglect of a focus on spiritual life is a key factor in driving the misuse of alcohol,” Mr Carpenter says.

“Christianity has become a taboo subject, particularly in schools. This is leaving our children ignorant of the founding basis of our democracy and culture and, more important, in a spiritual vacuum.

“While a number of the control measures may be useful, the law does not address this spiritual vacuum. If people think that God is unreal or irrelevant, there is no external point of reference to guide individuals and our society.”

The NZCN (visionnetwork) submission on the Law Commission discussion document is available at http://www.visionnetwork.org.nz/health/660-alcohol-submission.html

New Zealand Christian Network (visionnetwork) is a broad-spectrum network of churches and Christian leaders, with a Board of Reference which includes leaders from all the main denominations. It seeks to present a biblically orthodox position on issues, reflecting the views of the majority of Christians in New Zealand.

ENDS

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