The Government's outlined how it wants New Zealand's new liquor laws to work.
Among the changes, dairies would no longer be able to sell alcohol, and the age for buying liquor in stores would rise to 20.
But Professor Doug Sellman, the director of the National Addiction Centre says the proposals don't go far enough.
“I think there are some good things in this bill, but they are tinkerings,” he told Firstline this morning.
Dr Sellman says the economic recession has done more to curb drinking problems in New Zealand than the proposed changes.
He believes the changes will struggle to pass, as the ordinary person cannot compete with big business – which will not want the changes to become a reality.
“It’s going to need ordinary citizens in their spare time squaring off against the Progressive Enterprises, the Foodstuffs, the Hospitality Association, these organisations with their enormous legal and other resources,” he says.
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