Alcohol in our lives

The Law Commission has released a public discussion paper on the reform of New Zealand’s liquor law. The report - Alcohol in our Lives - is comprehensive but very engaging and easy to read, with many pictures, illustrations and key facts highlighted throughout. You can download the report from talklaw.co.nz/liquor.

For a summary of the liquor review watch this short presentation by Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Law Commission President:

The review provides an in-depth description of how we are drinking and highlights the major impacts harmful drinking is having on levels of crime, injury and health. It addresses change and proposes a number of tentative solutions to address alcohol-related harm. These are grouped under supply control, demand reduction and problem limitation.

Some of the options favoured by the Law Commission include:

• Only people aged 20 and over can buy alcohol at off-licences.
• Bars and clubs to stop selling alcohol at 2am, with some extensions to 4am for those with a one-way door policy.
• Powers for police to immediately close bars and clubs that breach liquor laws.
• Widening the grounds upon which a liquor licence can be cancelled
• Giving greater regard to community concerns in granting a licence.
• Allowing the Liquor Licensing Authority to impose additional conditions on a licence for the purpose of reducing liquor-related harm.
• Increase excise tax.
• Lower excise tax on low-alcohol drinks.
• Powers for Government to ban some drinks on health grounds.

Have your say

Public consultation and submissions on the review closed 30 October 2009. The Law Commission is expected to produce a final report for Government in March 2010.