Higher Drinking Age Futile, Says Eckhoff

Wednesday 19 May 2004 Gerry Eckhoff Press Releases -- Other

The raising of the legal drinking age, as proposed by Jim Anderton, will solve nothing, ACT New Zealand MP Gerry Eckhoff said today.

"The real problem is the combination of a ten-fold increase in availability with supermarkets selling alcohol - often discounted; the introduction of premixed drinks; combined with the lowering of the drinking age. These three factors were always going to be a recipe for disaster.

"Mr Anderton's hand-wringing over the age factor is nonsense. This issue highlights his lack of understanding of the real world. The Government should take more notice of industry and less of its own officials' advice," Mr Eckhoff said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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