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Pricing must be included in Alcohol Reform Bill - expert

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Pricing must be included in Alcohol Reform Bill - expert

3News NZ

Prices on alcohol need to go up, says an expert (file)

Prices on alcohol need to go up, says an expert (file)

A leading academic is alarmed that a university master’s thesis is being used to prop up a Government decision to exclude pricing from an upcoming Alcohol Reform Bill.

The Auckland University of Technology thesis has found price regulation did little to curb binge drinking - a study that Justice Minister Judith Collins has pointed to in a recent TV debate.

But Professor Doug Sellman, from the National Addiction Centre, says legislation should be based solely on evidence.

“In this situation around pricing the international evidence is clear; National experts in New Zealand agree, the Law Commission actually recommended it [and] the Prime Minister’s scientific adviser has advised price increases,” says Dr Sellman.

Dr Sellman says American and British studies have found that targeting the cheapest drinks has the most effect in reducing consumption.

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Comments

21/08/2012 2:06:10 p.m.

Denise wrote:

The only thing that needs to be raised is the drinking age. Back to 21 where it used to be. To suggest raising the price of drinks punishes the law abiding majority rather than dealing with the excess drinking minority who are the main problem. Also, better policing of existing laws should be enforced to take care of any binge drinking in public.

20/08/2012 6:35:19 p.m.

Tusaga wrote:

Family First NZ is calling on politicians to raise both the drinking and the purchasr age to 20 when they vote next week, and is asking families to contant MP's to ask them to vote to protect young people and veverse the harm that alcohol is causing to our young people

20/08/2012 6:09:49 p.m.

Alex wrote:

Upon a recent trip to Italy I found you can buy 1 litre of wine for around 3 euros (or $4.50) at supermarkets. Yet, Italy has a very sophisticated drinking culture much more impressive than ours. If we target price, it should only be done to the bottom echelon (say lowest 10%) of all alcohols.

17/08/2012 9:19:31 p.m.

Anaru wrote:

Steve. You need to open your eyes to the reality of academic gibberish where so called studies can be used to prove anything the author wishes to prove. In the real world any increase in price not done through a scaled govt. controlled tax will result in price gauging by the alcohol producers and distributors. Even if price increases done through a tax may be effective, it is the most unfair method to use because the majority will be punished because of the actions of the abusing minority. It is more fair to deal with the minority by better policing of their abuse and limiting their access to alcohol rather than raising the price.

17/08/2012 8:57:08 p.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

QUOTE: "The Auckland University of Technology thesis has found price regulation did little to curb binge drinking - a study that Justice Minister Judith Collins has pointed to in a recent TV debate."

Why do we have to listen at all to all the academics and their useless claims that they know best and that price increases is the only way to curb binge drinking by the 5% of the drinking population. Typical leftist thinking, increase the price of alcohol to everyone to try and prevent the few irresponsible drinkers being able to afford buy them.

Just jail the irrespomsible drunks for say two nights, charge them for two nights accomodation costs plus and any
other cleaning costs if applicable.

Second offence - lay charges and fine them.

I dont believe in raising the age as if you can go and fight for your country at 18, then you should be able to decide when and how you want to drink.


17/08/2012 5:30:46 p.m.

Steve wrote:

Price is the most effective intervention. http://mediasite.uchc.edu/Mediasite41/Viewer/?peid=bd99d7eb-d8ef-432d-ba48-b3892d9aa355 The AUT report Mike asked students what they would do if the price was raised. Naturally a theoretical poll can be based on irrational bravado rather than cold cash in the wallet. The point is if it isn't based on good research why does Judith Collins rave about it while ignoring seasoned NZ research by Prof. Sally Casswell of over 100 overseas studies that were peer reviewed not just a Masters student's unpublished work? Clearly she wants to support her parties mantra and ignore the best solution.

16/08/2012 10:50:30 a.m.

Paora wrote:

Price increases in low priced drinks will only lead to price gauging. The only winners here would be the producing companies already making good profits. Why punish the responsible drinkers because of a few irresponsible ones. The only fair way is better policing of existing laws like putting public drunks in a cell overnight and raising the drinking age back to 21 where it was.

16/08/2012 9:51:47 a.m.

Richard wrote:

Pricing is not the problem. Some of the countries in the world with the cheapest alcohol do not experience the problems we do. The issue is access, attitude and policing. Focus on the real causes rather than penalising the majority.

16/08/2012 8:32:54 a.m.

Mike wrote:

Who profits the most from minimum pricing?

The Alcohol Industry. Is the heavy oppostion support for minimum pricing been purchased by the alcohol industry?

It would be much better to raise the tax on alcohol than to introduce minimum pricing. Then at least it would be government collecting the extra profit vs the alcohol industry.

And if alcohol starts with say 15% more tax, that should lead to a reduction in binge drinking, if price is an issue.

Someone paying $30 or $40 for their bottle of wine? They can probably afford a bit more tax.

The AUT report looked at binge drinking and found price was not really a factor as money isn't that short. Its a culture. If a student has a money shortage, then they tend to not drink, save some cash, or keep the creditcard payments up, then binge. Even the price of the alcohol is not the cheapest alcohol the binge drinkers are drinking.

As for the idiot that claimed alcohol was cheaper to buy than water (free out the tap) and milk (currently under $2/ltr), the idiot must have been doped up or binge drinking before their interview as nowhere in NZ can you buy alcohol that cheap!