Chris Gardner
Breakers Cafe and Bar worker Laura Bowden could find herself out of a job if a political push to raise the legal drinking age to 20 succeeds.
The 19-year-old bar staffer, who has worked at the Napier bar for four months, could find herself pulling pints for the last time
if the Bill, which will also outlaw 18 and 19 year-olds from selling alcohol, is passed.
"It's unfair for people like me, who are already in the industry, if they are going to go and change it on us," Laura said.
"I love it here."
If the age-limit is raised, Laura might have to rethink a planned trip to the South Island, which she hoped to pay for from bar work.
"I have worked in the hospitality trade for all my jobs and it would seriously inconvenience me."
Raising the limit is the brainchild of Progressive party deputy leader Matt Robson, who said he would not want to see people lose jobs as a side-effect of the legislation.
It could be possible to have those people redeployed to another part of the business, he said.
"Bringing it (the legal drinking limit) down was not so that people could get jobs."
Mr Robson said he was organising a public meeting in Hawke's Bay in late June, to discover the level of support.
Around 75 percent of people polled so far have supported him.
Sergeant Bob Gordon, liquor licensing officer for the Hastings district and member of the Havelock North Liquor Accord, said under existing legislation those under 18 could serve alcohol.
While he supported raising the limit, Mr Gordon said he sympathised with 18 and 19 year-olds who were currently allowed to drink, and would like to see some process that would continue to allow them to have a civilised drink.
