Liquor council raps politicians

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 11

Liquor council raps politicians

PA Wellington Politicians and localbody leaders are admonished by the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council in its annual report to Parliament The council had hoped that a firm, consistent advocacy of alcoholic moderation would have been forthcoming at political and.local-body, levels and from leaders of ' public opinion generally but this had not been apparent, said the report A firm leadership line was necessary because public interest in the alcohol problem was by no means automatic or sustained. Many people seemed to be genuinely uneasy about New Zealanders’ drinking

habits, especially the harmful effects of excessive drinking, but the level of total alcohol consumption had nevertheless increased, with younger people drinking more and earlier. The consumption of beer had fallen slightly but total alcohol intake was up because of a sharp increase in wine drinking. The council opposed changes in the alcohol laws to protect the minority who failed to drink in moderation because it believed that the majority of New Zealanders who chose to drink did so sensibly. The effective enforcement of existing legislation would contribute more than the passage of new laws.