WELLINGTON - Alcohol may soon be less evil than in the past.
The reference to "evils" is set to disappear from the primary objective statement of the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council (Alac), following a select committee recommendation.
The health committee has been considering the Alcohol Advisory Council Amendment Bill, which also recommends
changing Alac's statutory name to the Alcohol Advisory Council but keeping the same acronym.
The bill recommends that Alac's statement refer to "minimising the personal, social and economic harm resulting from the misuse of liquor" rather than the present "evils resulting from the misuse of liquor."
"We agree this change is needed as the term 'evils' is associated with prohibitionist sentiment and is inconsistent with the promotion of moderate and safe use of alcohol," the committee says in its report.
The bill, introduced by National MP Belinda Vernon, also recommends:
* Reducing the size of the Alac council from eight to six members by removing departmental members.
* Including a statutory requirement that the council has at least one Maori representative, one person experienced in the health field and one person experienced in social policy development.
* Clarifying Alac's role in relation to treatment programmes.
* Allowing Alac to address road and industrial safety issues.
* Allowing it to address the use of alcohol in combination with other drugs.
Parliament will debate the bill soon.
- NZPA
