Winston Peter's bill plans to up drinking age

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters plans to introduce a law to put the legal drinking age back at 20 and ban open alcoholic drinks in vehicles.

Local councils would also have the right to pass bylaws banning alcohol in designated areas if the law is changed.

Parliament voted by 65 to 55 to lower the drinking age from 20 to 18 two years ago, but last week said it would review the drinking age laws.

Mr Peters' member's bill must be drawn from a ballot of bills sponsored by other MPs before it can be debated in Parliament.

He said: "Drunken louts ran amok in Auckland almost every Friday and Saturday and it was time for a change now."