National Leaves the Fox in Charge

Conservative party leader Colin Craig has responded to the government’s plan to allow the alcohol industry to set its own controls on the sale of RTDs.

“This is the fox guarding the hen house. We all know that the alcohol industry has always had the opportunity to self-regulate these drinks, but they have not, and will not to any serious degree.”

“RTDs are a very profitable product line for alcohol companies, and a very destructive product line for our communities. This is a clear example of where our community wellbeing needs to come ahead of profit.”

“Ordinary New Zealanders already subsidise our binge drinking culture, as well as the profits of the alcohol companies.”

“We cannot ignore that these drinks are deliberately targeted at vulnerable younger people, who can suffer permanent damage from alcohol’s misuse, and are easily drawn into a binge drinking lifestyle. The science is clear, identifying a range of serious health effects including brain cell degradation, reduced impulse control, and a broad range of harmful secondary effects, including as we all know, a much higher accident rate.”

“Controls similar to those introduced in Australia make absolute sense, and I expect they would have a similar positive impact here.”

“The alcohol industry’s offer to put in place a voluntary code is simply a time wasting tactic. It delays a real solution, while they continue to make profits at our expense.”

"The Conservative Party has made it clear that it supports raising the purchasing age of alcohol, and raising price to reflect the real costs, so that ordinary kiwis are no longer forced to subsidise the binge drinking lifestyle of a minority.”

ENDS

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