Letters to Editor: Govt loses bottle over booze

Government loses bottle over booze

I am very disappointed in the latest version of the Government's Alcohol Reform Bill as it still fails to address advertising, sponsorship and price issues, despite the fact that these drive New Zealand's heavy-drinking culture.

Price is the single most important issue in reducing binge-drinking, as it was in tobacco with smoking, and the bill does nothing to stop alcohol being sold at ultra-cheap prices, especially in supermarkets.

The two new measures for supermarkets - a separate display place and the collection of sales data - while positive, are not going to have any impact on changing our heavy-drinking culture.

I am also disappointed that the bill fails to deal with saturation advertising and sponsorship of alcohol.

It is appalling that a legalised drug is allowed to be heavily marketed and advertised to teenagers and young people. Alcohol advertising glamourises and normalises alcohol and helps create enormous peer pressure on young people to drink.

This Government received thousands of submissions from doctors, social workers, teachers, community leaders and concerned citizens imploring them to change the laws to reduce the social, physical, mental and economic harm being done by our heavy-drinking culture. They asked for leadership and compassion from the Government in addressing alcohol harm.

All they have got is a weak and ineffectual bill which panders to the powerful liquor industry and protects their ability to sell their product using whatever means available, despite the enormous cost to the well-being of our communities.

Laurie Jenkin, Grey Power

'Twits' let side down

The city is looking pretty with the new Rugby World Cup flags, well done.

McLean Park, not too shabby. But as a nearby resident to the park, I am wondering when the council will sort out the eyesore that is the corner of Vigor Brown and McVeigh streets.

Yip, boy racers, maybe boy twits would be a better term.

Every week there are new "doughnut" marks on the road. Vigor Brown St is very much a localised raceway and hoon destination.

What message does it send to the many visitors to the Bay when it is very obvious the city has this problem?

It is too close to the park, and these clowns risk the lives of many residents, elderly and children, by their speed and dangerous driving.

Come on council, sort it out. Get the roads clean, stop the speed!

Jane Reed, Napier