In April the Law Commission presented the Government with 153 recommendations on reducing the harm caused by alcohol. Today the Government said it would accept 126 of them.
But it has:
- Rejected exempting the Defence Force, Police and Fire Service from licensing legislation, though it has removed the exemption for the House of Representatives, meaning Parliament is now subject to liquor laws.
- Rejected increasing the excise tax on alcohol by 50 percent and on low alcohol products up to 2.5 percent alcohol by volume.
- Rejected giving licensees, managers and licensed door staff powers to confiscate false evidence of age.
- Rejected introducing a cost-recovery regime giving police the power to serve a notice of debt on anyone who, because of intoxication, is driven home, placed in temporary shelter or put in a police cell.
- Rejected allowing on-licences to be able to remain open until their normal closing time on prohibited days and then not opening for another 24 hours. This was rejected because it would require an amendment to shop trading legislation.
- Rejected supermarkets being required to keep alcohol in one place on their premises to restrict exposure and normalisation of alcohol for young people.
- Rejected it being an offence for anyone under 20 to drink or possess alcohol in a public place unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Government chose to keep the age at 18.
- Rejected increasing the minimum age for people employed to sell alcohol from 18 to 20.
- Rejected reducing the maximum fine for a breach of the liquor ban from $20,000 to $500.
NZPA