Concern about a drinking culture

The Families Commission intends to contribute to the Government review of restrictions on the sale of alcohol to young people.

Deputy Chief Commissioner, Sharron Cole, says the debate around the proposed amendment to the Sale of Liquor Act late last year showed that there was widespread concern about young people who drink to excess.

“Our drinking culture is pervasive and goes across all ages. In June we published a report Impacts of Heavy Drinking on Families which showed the widespread effects of heavy drinking by parents on the health, wellbeing and development of their children,” she said.

The review’s goals are to determine the harm caused by the sale and supply of liquor to minors, evaluate the effectiveness of current restrictions and develop proposals that might be necessary to address the causes of harm.

“The review will need to look at these issues within the broader context of our drinking culture,” she said.

Late last year the Commission asked members of its online feedback panel The Couch for their views on attitudes toward alcohol. Just over 800 members chose to take part.

Most felt that parents and society as a whole had a part to play in changing what many saw as a ‘drinking culture’.

Comments included: “It is considered OK and normal to get drunk, or REALLY drunk”; “Alcohol has been glorified in New Zealand culture for many generations”; “We are teaching our children about this world. They didn’t arrive on this planet with their views about alcohol – they learn it from us”.

Most (87 percent) said they and other adults in their home drink alcohol. A third of these were parents or caregivers of teenagers.

“They were very aware that parents and caregivers need to set a good example and teach their children to drink responsibly. However, they felt that young people were most influenced by the behaviour of their peers and that increasing public, parental and young people’s disapproval of drinking to excess would be helpful,” said Ms Cole.

About half of all the respondents said they would allow young people under the age of 18 to drink in their home in the presence of a parent or caregiver. However, only four out of 10 said they would provide the alcohol, and only two in 10 had ever actually given drinks to someone under 18. Of those who did provide alcohol, most said they limited consumption to just one or two glasses. Most had not, and would not provide alcohol to young people to drink away from the home.

More than three quarters of the panel respondents said they did not support introducing a legal age at which young people could start drinking, however, about half did support increasing the purchase age to 20.

“We look forward to contributing to the review,” said Ms Cole.

Terms of Reference for the Review of the Sale and Supply of Liquor to Minors

Purpose

1. Set out are the Terms of Reference for the Review of the Sale and Supply of Liquor to Minors (“the Review”).

Background

2. On 8 November 2006, Justice Minister Hon Mark Burton and Associate Health Minister Hon Damien O’Connor announced the Government’s intention to review the effectiveness of current restrictions on the sale and supply of liquor to young people under the age of 18.

Goals of the Review

3 The goals of the review are to:

 Determine the harms arising from the sale and supply of liquor to minors;
 Evaluate the effectiveness of current restrictions on sale and supply to minors; and
 Develop policy proposals, as necessary, that address the causes of harms arising from sale and supply to minors.

Project Scope

4. The project will review the sale and supply of liquor to persons under the age of 18. This shall include a review of provisions of the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 relating to sale and supply to minors, including proposals for reform to address the causes of harm to minors. These proposals may include, but are not restricted to:

o Tighter controls on sale and supply of liquor, both from licensed premises and from family, friends and others; and
o Increased enforcement options to address breaches of the Act by minors and by persons who sell or supply liquor.

5. The Review will also look at wider policy options to address the harms arising from the sale and supply of liquor to minors. These proposals may include, but are not restricted to:

o Adoption of recommendations from the Government Review of Alcohol Advertising;
o Improved education and awareness;
o Improved enforcement of the Sale of Liquor Act;
o Identification of community and international initiatives which have, or are considered likely to, address the causes of harm arising from the sale and supply of alcohol to minors;
o Other initiatives that are identified during the review.

6. This Review will be incorporated into the existing Targeted Review of the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 undertaken by the Ministry of Justice.

Project Structure

7. The project will have two phases. Phase 1 will consist of research and analysis and will involve:

o Stating the objectives of the review;
o Problem identification;
o Literature review;
o Identification and evaluation of current restrictions on the sale and supply of liquor and initiatives to reduce harm to minors; and
o Identification and evaluation of national and international initiatives relating to the sale and supply of liquor to minors.

8. Based on the results from Phase 1, Phase 2 of the Project will set out options and recommendations for reform and will involve:

o A summary of results of phase 1;
o An assessment of the effectiveness of current restrictions / initiatives to address harm;
o Development of options for reform;
o Analysis of options; and
o Final recommendations to Ministers, setting out proposals for reform.

9. Cabinet is to finalise the timeline so that the matter is progressed this year.

Project Governance

10. A Steering Group will be formed from representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC), and the Police. The Steering Group will be chaired by the Ministry of Justice and will report to the Minister of Justice and the Associate Minister of Health.

Consultation and Participation

11. A distinction will be made between:

 seeking the views of the interested parties; and
 directly involving interested parties in various projects or elements of them.

12. The Steering Group will consider, as appropriate, the need for consultation. The Steering Group will ensure that it is clear to those being consulted that the Group is seeking views on:
 the definition of an issue to be addressed;
 the desirability of options;
 the feasibility of options;
 any proposed implementation strategy.

13. With respect to direct involvement, the Steering Group will consider as appropriate the need for individuals to be invited to:

 provide written work on any topic;
 provide comment on draft documents;
 participate in focus groups;
 be involved in any governance group, working party, or advisory group; and
 be engaged on any element of the project.

Project Budget

14. Project resourcing is to be met from within the existing budgets of those agencies represented on the Steering Group.

ENDS

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