Have your say on Social Supply

What did the Law Commission recommend?

Many parents do not want to lose their right to introduce their child to alcohol in a responsible manner but are frustrated at being unable to prevent others from supplying alcohol to their children, often with no adult supervision.

• The Law Commission recognised the rights and responsibilities of parents with respect to the supply of alcohol to minors.
• The Law Commission recommended that it be an offence for any person who is not the parent or guardian to supply alcohol to someone under the age of 18, UNLESS:
  • they have got consent (orally or in writing) from a parent or guardian, AND
  • the alcohol is supplied in a responsible manner.
• Supplying alcohol in a responsible manner means taking into account factors such as:
  • adequacy of adult supervision
  • age of minors present
  • quantity and duration of alcohol supplied
  • presence of intoxication
  • availability of food.
• A parent or guardian would not be responsible if a minor had acted without their knowledge or against their instructions.
• The Law Commission acknowledges concerns about how consent and supervision will be enforced.
• If the purchase age is raised to 20, these recommendations will apply only to those under 18 because the legal responsibilities of parents and guardians end once children turn 18.

What was the Government’s response?

• Very good. The Government accepted the Law Commission’s proposals for strengthening controls on supply of alcohol to minors. It noted that Police would have discretion not to prosecute and believes this will give protection to low-level, low-harm supply and avoid over-interference in people’s private lives.

Overall grade awarded
A Good, an achievement that demonstrates substantial knowledge of the issue and has responded to a significant proportion of requirements . Nearly there – good work.

Research and experience shows:

• Parents, other family members and friends are the main sources of alcohol supply to minors.
• The risk of harm for minors is reduced when parents are involved and there is adult supervision.
• Young people drink more when alcohol is supplied by friends than by parents.
  • Minors are more likely to consume larger amounts of alcohol at someone else’s home (61%) than in their own home (21%).
  • Parents were the most common source of supply to minors who drank less than two standard drinks, while friends were the most common source of supply to minors who drank six or more drinks, on a single occasion.
• Parents have a great influence on young people’s drinking. This influence is more positive when communication channels are clear, there is positive role modelling in the home and alcohol-specific boundaries are put in place.
• Delaying the age of alcohol initiation helps reduce harmful drinking.
• Police often respond to out-of-control parties where alcohol has been supplied by adults to other people’s children, yet find it difficult to investigate or prosecute the supplier under existing law.

What should the Government do?

• Follow through on its decision to accept the Law Commission’s proposals for strengthening the controls on supply of alcohol to minors by including this in the new alcohol law. This will give parents and other adults more support and clarity about their rights and responsibilities around supplying alcohol to their own and other children.
• Invest adequate resources to ensure parents understand the critical role they play in introducing their children to alcohol, including the importance of role modelling and responsible supply.
• Enforce the new laws in a way that Police discretion is not used to unfairly target particular socio-economic or ethnic groups.

What should you do?

• Have your say in creating better alcohol laws by making a written submission to the Select Committee before Tuesday 1 February 2011. This can be as short or long as you like, and you can use this toolkit to help you.
• Tell the Government that it should accept all 153 of the Law Commission’s recommendations.
• If you make a written submission, you should also make an oral presentation. You can be as creative as you like. This is your chance to tell your story about the impact of alcohol on your family and community and to tell our politicians about the changes that you want to see.
• Encourage your friends, family and community to get involved. The more New Zealanders who speak out, the more likely it is that the Government will listen.
• Ask to meet with or write to your local MP and let them know your views
  on alcohol law change.

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