A new initiative to open communication between liquor distributors and Whangarei youth is set to be New Zealand's first youth-led alcohol accord.
Whangarei Youth Collective are bringing together members of the hospitality industry, liquor distributors, health trusts and local councillors to make a change and combat the negative impact alcohol
has on young people.
Youth representative Dean Campbell, 18, said the accord will be the start of a positive change to reduce alcohol-related harm in young people in Whangarei.
"There is an issue in the city and we need to address it. At night young people who are drunk are causing havoc and yelling abuse. Alcohol consumption causes people to do things they wouldn't usually do and it's happening more and more," he said.
"There's nobody regulating the problem. Hopefully, we can form a committee and help them [liquor distributors] to be more aware."