Media Release
Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer
President Law Commission
Friday 30th October 2009

Submissions on Sale of Liquor

“A remarkable number of New Zealanders have taken the opportunity to express their views on the reform of the country’s liquor laws,” Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President of the Law Commission said today.

Over 2,000 submissions had been received by the Law Commission when the three month submission period closed today.

“The Law Commission has never in its history had so many submissions on a project”.

“It is gratifying to see the level of public engagement in this vital debate, but I am not surprised given the response the Commission has received travelling around the country in the past three months.

The terms of reference for the review of the 1989 Sale of Liquor Act required the Law Commission to undertake extensive public consultation. Since publishing the 280 page Issues Paper, Alcohol in Our Lives, in July, Sir Geoffrey and members of the review team have attended more than 40 meetings from the Far North to Invercargill.

The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC) has provided invaluable assistance in coordinating targeted consultation meetings with some of the groups most impacted by alcohol related harms including young people, Maori, and Pacific peoples.

In addition, the Commission held a series of public forums and select committee style hearings in the main centres and has also had a series of meetings with key industry and community stakeholders: “Throughout this process I have been impressed by the commitment of ordinary New Zealanders to tackling these problems.

“Publicans, secondary principals, mayors, midwives, youth workers, parents and grandparents – everyone has a stake in finding a solution to the problems associated with our binge drinking culture.” The Commission will spend the next few months analysing the submissions before drafting its final recommendations and report for the government.

Submissions will be available to requestors at the end of February 2010 after the Commission has completed its analysis of them.

ENDS

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