Alcohol watchdog unhappy over vote

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Alcohol watchdog unhappy over vote

3News NZ

Alcohol Healthwatch director Rebecca Williams

Alcohol Healthwatch director Rebecca Williams

An alcohol advisory organisation is disappointed about the alcohol purchase age remaining at 18.

MPs voted to keep the status quo over raising it to 20 or changing to a split age of 18 at on-license venues and 20 at off-licence.

Alcohol Healthwatch director Rebecca Williams told Firstline the organisation was not pleased with the outcome.

“It’s very very disappointing. We’re aware that about 78 percent of New Zealanders wanted the Government to raise the purchase age to 20.”

She says there is a lot of evidence to show raising the age can improve young people’s wellbeing and health.

“It’s very much about children and young people.”

Ms Williams says in the three years following the lowering of the alcohol purchase age in 1999, there was an overall increase of 20 percent alcohol related hospital admissions. For 10 to 14 year olds she says there was an 86 percent increase in alcohol related hospital admissions.

Watch the video for the full interview.

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Comments

4/09/2012 11:45:51 p.m.

Matt J wrote:

The age isn't the problem. It's many New Zealanders, young and old, attitude towards drinking thats the problem. Raising the age just delays the potential problems for another 2 years. Until serious money is spent on public health campaigns educating NZers on the health and associated social issues related to excessive binge drinking then raising the age by 2 years or not isn't going to change anything. It was only after long sustained well funded anti smoking campaings were undertaken many years ago that people started to cotton on to the health risks of smoking. Why we aren't doing the same thing with booze is beyond me. By all means people should enjoy a drink. But its also having drinkers understanding their limits and actually have them understanding how alcohol can affect different people. We just don't take it seriously enough in NZ at present. I guess one day as a country we will be grown ups about it.

3/09/2012 8:11:47 a.m.

jan wrote:

I think a partial problem is that children are kept in school until 17 -18 = year 12 (approx) then sent out to the world. Years ago back in say 1920's you were considered an adult when you turned 13, sure due to the war etc. Its just now days society keeps you as a kid until 18 then expects you to behave when you hit 18 after leaving school. Kids of today have it sweet, kept coddled at school and everything brought for them, and then the uni ones complain after years of study there are no jobs. Tough. I think the kids of today should start to act responsile in other areas of life so when they turn 18 they would of matured a bit so they don't turn into binge drinkers. Look sweeping generalisations but you can't expect a brain change on the day of there 18th birthday, be it alcohol or driving.

1/09/2012 6:38:20 p.m.

Moera wrote:

As one 18 year old had commented 'At 18 we're considered adults. That's what NZ law says.' NZ law states that teens can marry without parent consent at 20, be sexually active at 16, borrow money at 18,buy cigarettes at 18 BUT what NZ law also states is that when classed as an adult (by law)20 yrs is the stated age. So why wasn't the purchase age raised? A question that needs to be directed at parliament. Personally, I believe that it's not the age that dictates responsibility but the Maturity level of the 18 yr old. Not every 18 yr old should be classed as irresponsible as there are very capable leaders within this age group. How to solve the problem of 'binge' drinking? There could be many measures, just exactly which one to use would depend on the individual. This referring to both young and old.

1/09/2012 7:53:23 a.m.

jan.. wrote:

New Zealand people has a say in all matters concerning the health and safety of the livings.. An 18 year old should be accompanied by and older person to the pubs and it should only allowed to serve maybe two pints of beer to two glass of wine but if an 18 year old disrespect their limit of drinking in bars then the age drinking limit must move up to twenty one where they can handle it a bit better.. If an 18-20 year old direspect the law then the law should be forced the drinking age to 21.. Its up to the 18 and 20 year old once granted to respect the law or otherwise its a 'NO' deal..

31/08/2012 2:59:28 p.m.

Glen wrote:

if these people are serious about stopping binge drinking in NZ then they need to stop shows like Jersey shore, Gc and movies like The hangover been shown to teenagers.These shows portray getting drunk as been cool so of course teens will follow this.Look at them hangover movies, they show people getting so trashed they forget what they have done , what sort of role is that setting for teenagers.???

31/08/2012 1:32:07 p.m.

S wrote:

The people who 'supposedly' represent NZ in parliament and vote on our behalf, let NZ down - from now on laws passed need to be voted on by NZers!

31/08/2012 1:24:24 p.m.

Sue wrote:

Keeping the minimum alcohol purchasing age at 18 is the only right way to vote. You cannot say to a young man or woman that at 18 you can be conscripted at time of war to serve and possibly die for your country; you can also at 18 get married without parental consent but when it comes to alcohol.. No you cannot go in and buy yourself a drink. If that became the norm one would have to cry 'Shame!'.