A Ready To Drink (RTD) beverage is a vile soft drink concoction - sweet, sugary and complete with alcohol.
On Friday March 19 Frances Stubbs allegedly drank four RTDs before failing a breath-test when she was stopped driving her car.
Stubbs sped off, before allegedly crashing into Penelope Philips’ car.
Penelope died at the scene.
France’s father, Peter Stubbs, says RTDs are too easy to drink, too strong, too cheap and too readily-available to the young.
From 1998 to 2008 there has been a steady increase in spirit-based drinks – New Zealanders are now consuming around 60 million litres each year.
Along with raising the drinking age and price, the National Addiction Centre wants manufacturers to stop aggressive marketing campaigns targeting young people.
“RTDs were a deliberate strategic response by the alcohol industry to increase their profits at the expense of our children,” says spokesman Doug Sellman.
RTDs generally sell separately for about $2.50 – cheaper than a bottle of coke.
“They’re being targeted to young people who don’t have the disposable income of adults, so being able to buy it in small amounts and they are strong products, often having two standard drinks or more in a bottle,” says Mr Sellman.
“They’re very easy to drink, it’s like drinking cordial.”
Mr Stubbs is calling for RTDs to be banned, saying they’re a loaded gun in the hands of our kids.
Independent Liquor told Campbell Live it has been working closely with the Law Commission and Sir Geoffrey Palmer on the review of the Sale of Liquor Act.
It says pre-mixed drinks are actually more expensive than standard wine or mainstream beer.
“RTDs have grown significantly since they were introduced, but total spirit consumption has been relatively flat,” a spokesman for the Commission said.
“Alcohol consumption in New Zealand fell in 2009, so New Zealanders are drinking the same as they were 30 years ago.
“The problem is not what, or how much we drink, but the way some people drink.”