NZ's worst drink-driver due to be released

Raymond Charles Laing is due to be released again next month after serving a prison sentence for his 26th drink-driving conviction. Photo / File

The country's worst drink-driver is due to be released again next month after serving a prison sentence for his 26th drink-driving conviction.

Raymond Charles Laing was sentenced to three years in jail in 2012, and will have served his full sentence on May 15.

He declined to appear at his last Parole Board hearing on March 19, Fairfax reported.

When he leaves prison, he will be required to live at an approved address, attend an alcohol and drug treatment programme, and undergo psychological assessment and counselling as directed by a parole officer.

He would also be banned from drinking, Fairfax said.

Laing reoffended in 2012 just a short time after being released from prison on another drink-driving offence.

He has seven convictions for dangerous driving, including three causing injuries to others, and 31 convictions for driving while disqualified.

Rebecca Williams from Alcohol Healthwatch told Newstalk ZB today the law needed to do more to address alcohol-related problems..

"It's important to actually unpack this a little bit, and have a look at what's going on around alcohol that needs to be addressed," she said.

"It's very difficult talking after the fact with people who have been drink driving for many many years, it's a very tough nut to crack. Talking about it going forward, that's where we need to make a difference in how we respond to people who are drink driving."

Ms Williams told Newstalk that anyone caught drink-driving had probably done it 80 to 90 times already, so was already a repeat drink-driver.

"When we catch someone, we need to explore a bit more around what's going on with their alcohol use."

She said it was important to screen people early for alcohol problems and transfer those people into an alcohol treatment problem.

Another issue was the availability of alcohol in New Zealand.

"It's cheap, it's available, and we as a nation like to drink, so when you've got someone with a problem in that sort of culture and that sort of environment, you really have a recipe for trouble."