Hotels support lowering of the drinking age

Press, 27 October 1976, Page 3

Hotels support lowering of the drinking age

The lowering of the drinking age to 18 is supported by the Hotel Association of New Zealand, within the terms and safeguards of the legislative amendments now before Parliament..

But it is greatly con- | cerned that the proposed | ancillary licences will permit minors of any age to purchase liquor or drink it, if accompanied by a parent or spouse while, quite properly, hotels will be subject to stringent enforcement of the drinking age. “Furthermore, should the drinking age not be lowered, 18-year-olds will have complete freedom to drink everywhere except in hotels —such as restaurants, caba- ! rets and all other premises or functions - sanctioned under caterers’ and general ancillary licences,” the association’s chief executive, Mr J. J. Williams, said today. “As it stands, the proi posed legislation discriminates against both the hotelier and the great majority of the public,” he said.; “It would also create serious: anomalies which are surely not the intention of the: amendments to the Act. “The hotel industry favours special dining facilities for the family unit, and our proposals to the recent Royal Commission were held to be a desirable advance, but as the bill is framed this is available only to those able to belong to aj club, “Lowering the drinking; age to eighteen will remove a social and legislative anomaly which has long been a cause of considerable difficulty and friction in the* hotel industry. especially! since this is the age;

for voting and for military service,” he said. “Hoteliers have always had to bear the brunt of confrontation and controversy on this issue, and we welcome a recognition of today’s social realities in this country which has existed overseas for manyyears. ; “Social attitudes have ad- , vanced considerably since - the last substantial legisla- ; five changes introduced 14 > years ago with the Sale of Liquor Act of 1962. We be- > lieve the hotel industry has 1 contributed greatly to I today’s more enlightened ■ views on liquor by the ' enormous improvements made in the eating and ■ drinking environment. “All our experience is : I that, given attractive fac--I ilities for meeting and drink- ■ ing, young people are well ibehaved and act maturely in j licensed premises. :| “What is more, our industry does provide and ’ exercise an influence, super- • vision and control that we believe will not be found in ■ some of the circumstances ' resulting from the in- ■ troduction of certain ancillary licences.” i Mr Williams said that on U these grounds alone the hotel industry was generally ; better placed to cater for the i family occasion which included minors. The new i legislation should recognise, z ! this as well as being equi-f ; table in its application to alii licensees. —Advertisement!