Glaring gaps in proposed RTD policy

Draft legislation to control alcohol abuse by targeting a narrow range of products known as RTDs will fail, predicts Thomas Chin, Chief Executive of the Distilled Spirits Association of New Zealand.

Mr Chin who represents the manufacturers, importers and distributors of spirit beverages says the measures targeting ready to drink beverages (RTDs) in the Alcohol Reform Bill are too narrow and easily evaded.

The Bill proposes limiting RTDs to a maximum of five per cent alcohol by volume and 1.5 standard drinks.

“The Bill appears to be targeted solely at spirit-based RTDs and ignores the wide range of other single serve beverages including flavoured beers, flavoured wines, cider, perry and high strength beer that are all easily substituted by consumers for spirit-based ready mixed drinks such as whiskey and cola.

“Many of these look-alike beverages exceed the 5/1.5 limit and will still be legally sold if the Bill goes ahead in its present form.

“As it is drafted, the Bill has the monumentally difficult task of defining RTDs and appears to discriminate against one sector of the beverage market while ignoring products that directly compete in content and style. The Government’s proposal is akin to trying to control boy-racers by banning all Toyota’s with an engine capacity greater than 1.5 litres,” Mr Chin says.

“The Association supports the promotion of responsible consumption and endorses measures in the Bill that are scientifically based to control alcohol abuse.”

Unlike other parts of the Alcohol Reform Bill, the Government had not produced a regulatory impact assessment paper for the proposed 5/1.5 measure.

“The Association knows of no credible evidence that would support the proposal. To the contrary, there is evidence from other countries, including Australia, Germany and Ireland,that shows that attempts to control the consumption of alcohol by targeting so called RTDs has failed as consumers switched to other products.”

At the Justice and Electoral Committee today, the Association advanced an alternative proposal to the 5/1.5 policy that recognises the wide range of products available in the market and also moves to control the size and strength of single serve beverages available.

“The Association proposes that the Government adopt a two standard drinks rule for all single serve beverages. This simplifies the difficult task of defining RTDs while allowing for product innovation to meet consumer demand.”

Mr Chin also pointed out that if the RTD provisions in the Alcohol Reform Bill are implemented as currently drafted, high strength spirit-based ‘RTDs’ originating from Australia will still be available in New Zealand under the provisions of the Trans-Tasman closer economic relationship agreement.

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