Liquor council called social milestone

Press, 23 July 1980, Page 10

Liquor co uncil called social milestone

PA Auckland The oft=criticised Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council, and its education programmes on alcohol abuse, have won support from professor of psychiatry at Auckland University, Dr J. S. Werry, who has called the council a social milestone. He has written to the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay) condemning the suggestion that the council direct its left-over money to the National Society on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and to the Salvation Army. If the council had money to spare it should go to the prevention of alcohol abuse, not to waste ful, ineffective treatment Professor Werry said. "How can it be said thathe council is spending too much money until its expenditure on advertising matches that of the liquoi industry?’’ According to Professor Werry, most problem drinkers do not "deteriorate to the skid row or even Alcoholics • Anonymous type.” Rather,

they moderated their drinking over a 10-year to 20-year period without professional, Alcoholics Anonymous, Salvation Army, Temperance Alliance, or other expert help. He said no medical, psychiatric, or counselling programme had been shown to influence the course of alcohol abuse or dependence. “This is not to deny the motional supportive influence of Alcoholics Anonymous or- such organisations to the alcoholic who has himself got to the point of wanting to change his drinking habits, or the need for simple humane care for the incurable skid row alcoholic.

"The vast majority of ilcoholics do not find heir path .to moderate Irinking or abstinence hrough any such organsation.” Professor Werry said he ;aw the creation of the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council — recently attacked by the Government for "excessive spending” —- as a social milestone. ‘‘The current harassment

of the council by the Government is undeserved and unworthy,” he said. "So far it has developed well and along the right lines, putting a major emphasis on prevention.” He also condemned moves to introduce a bill to lower the drinking age to 18 years. Alcohol abuse and dependence were related directly to the availability of drink; availability could be influenced by the price of alcohol, licensing restrictions, and personal attitudes. “If one does not want 16-year-olds drinking in pubs, the drinking age should not be lowered to 18. As any doctor or teacher would tell, the phsvcial maturity of adolescents is so variable that one cannot easily tell the age of an adolescent within a three-year range of error,” said Professor Werry. "Many 18-year-olds ah ready drink freely in pubs in New Zealand. Lowering the drinking age to 18 will simply provide access to those who are three or four years younger.”