'Five plus' has full support

Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock called on all MPs to give their full support to addressing the alcohol problems we have in New Zealand.

He said “the Kiwi Party would put their full support behind the "five-plus" package promoted by Alcohol Action NZ, which included higher alcohol prices, a higher drinking age, less accessible alcohol, cutting marketing and advertising and boosting drink driving countermeasures, plus more treatment opportunities for heavy drinkers.

"The sad fact is that it has to require such an intense amount of high profile lobbying to get parliament to adopt common sense measures to address our awful statistics. The lowering of the drinking age more than a decade ago was a tragic mistake that has contributed to the loss of too many precious lives, and it is a deplorable indictment against our political leadership, both past and present, that there have been so few MPs prepared to stand up and be counted on this issue".

"It's time we took our heads out of the sand", said Deputy Leader Simonne Dyer, "and admitted we have huge problems in our country because of our tolerance of an excessive alcohol drinking culture. As a grandmother I am outraged at the message being sent that the profits of breweries, and the taxes they pay, matter more than tackling this culture that is leading to the waste of so many young lives."

"Addressing alcohol and drug problems will continue to be a very high priority for the Kiwi Party and we welcome the five-plus initiative", said Mr Baldock.

ENDS

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