Do new alcohol laws effectively target NZ's drinking culture

just ridiculous. not everyone is a fool who cant control their consumption of alcohol. raising the age proves nothing. yes it affects me, but not for long. people will still just ask an older person to buy them drinks the same as usual. big fail.

They are trying to target our binge drinking culture by changing the laws. Our binge dirnking culture they speak of already shows that it doesnt adhere to the rules/laws as it is. so how are tightening the reins on these rules going to do any good but cause retelliation. If they really wanted to change our drinking culture they're going about it the wrong way. The majority of people do drink sensibly and its the same groups of wreckless people giving us all a bad rep. So instead of punishing as a whole, targetting the attitudes of drinkers is the only way to help solve the problem. This group of people that are the trouble causers willl not be affected by the law changes at all, if your determined to get 'hammered' no law can prevent this. As for the parental responsibilty that is bull s***. How many 18 and 19 year olds still live with their parents to get a note signed? how do the government even expect the police to be able to police that! that will waste time and resources chasing up a few well behaved minors having a few drinks to have some fun, when our police could be using their time to catch some actual criminals. I get that they want to change the drinking culture, but this is not the way to go about it.

This is rediculous! Raising the age won't make those who break the law anyway cease to do so! There will still be 12 year olds drinking regardless of the age. And in New Zealand 90% of those who contribute to New Zealands "binge drinking problem" are over the age of 20! 70% over 25! Stop using teenagers as an excuse! If you want the truth, all those cases you see on tv, or here about, to do with youth, are about the drinking of spirits. If you are going to do anything to do with age, it should be increasing the age to 20 to buy spirits, and make THEM less available. Reducing the percentage on RTD's is only going to make teens want to buy spirits and make their own *%, 10% or even stronger drinks in rebellion. and these will be kids who are UNDER the first age of 18 anyway!
Start paying attention to what the young ones are saying, after all they are the next generation who will be looking after us, and if these laws come in, resenting us.
It is not the kids who contribute to this high statistic, but the lack of education. And quite often, when at the club, I witness not young people, but you oldies, who so badly want this law in place,driving home, pissed off your faces.

Ivan, you said earlier than 18 years old is just a kid. But you strongly support teenagers entering the armed forces at not only 18, but 17, for a profession that involves using firearms, explosives and various military tactics that have a greater risk of dying than drinking alcohol. Thank god we don't live in the US or Britain where military losses are occurring every week through deployment in Afghanistan.

Rasieing the age will not change a single little thin. Its the people that drink and act bad in a way of drink driving. So yea i dont think its going to do a thing.

@ alex we should increase the age you are conceded as a adult 18 or 19 is a teen and 20 is not for example in japan you are conceded a minor if you are under 20. armed forces are fine at 17 to join nz armed forces its 17 and tobacco is fine at 18 as well you never hear of youth get under the influence of tobacco and cause trouble

latest fatal in christchurch 2 people dead DID NOT INVOLVE UNDER 18S!The killer driver is in his 20s Unfortuneatly he survived and 2 innocent elderly people lost their lives .unlicenced,unwarranted,unregistered,National Party!you got it wrong AGAIN.

Ivan, I suppose you also support increasing the age of voting to 20, as well as the age to purchase of tobacco, age of joining the armed forces, age of marriage, and age of entering a legal contract and everything that goes with it. 18 is definitely old enough to be considered an adult.

drinking age should be 20 full stop 18 is just a kid

These new laws are not going to change anything, except the rate of people breaking the law. 18 year olds that have finished school and are moving to the university lifestyle will drink no matter what. More faulse identification will be used and it will be harder to tell the difference between someone who is 18 or 20. The government and a lot of stuck up parents are getting too p.c for society to function with out kicking up a fuss on stuff that they all did when they were teenagers. Yes some teens binge but these laws will have absolutly no affect on them. No note from parents will stop underagers drinking. No laws about buying drinks will stop people getting drunk. Waste of time people.

What a great idea for under 18's to have to get a note to buy booze.Now all the deadbeat mums and dads out there that don't know or care where their kids are or what they are doing half the time,don't even have to go and get their own booze,they can write a note and have their kids get enough for the whole family...honestly,who writes these policies.