WIN Party Media Release
22.11.2005

for immediate release

'Happy hour' not the cause of binge drinking

Clamping down on pub 'happy hour' promotions will do nothing to alleviate New Zealand's binge drinking problem.

"In my time as a hotel licencee and also as a pub patron, I have never witnessed anything that could be described as binge drinking in licensed bars", says WIN Party leader John van Buren.

"The hotel industry is already the countries most heavily regulated and problematic binge drinking is happening away from licenced premises, in the streets, on beaches, in other public places, and at private parties and functions".

"Targeting the traditional pub happy hour is nothing more than political correctness from an overweight bureaucracy driven by the need to justify its continuing existence by creating an illusion it is doing the right thing".

"If authorities are going to target pubs, they should broaden their sweep to include off-licence outlet that run discount promotions".

"In fact, why don't they just be done with it and ban alcohol completely, and bring in mandatory life sentences for those caught in possession of alcohol".

"Prohibition will prove to be as effective at eliminating binge drinking problems as will killing off the pub happy hour".

"Draconian regulation and control does not work, and attacking the problem with a sledgehammer approach is only going to create an even bigger problem".

ENDS

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