Alliance aims to win third of liquor poll

Press, 24 June 1981, Page 26

Alliance aims to win third of liquor poll

PA Hamilton A new anti-alcohol campaign by the Temperance Alliance aims to win for prohibition at least a third of the votes cast in November's liquor poll. The campaign will be waged at meetings and rallies and in churches, halls and newspapers, says the alliance’s general secretary, Mr Tom Quayle. It is intended to build on the 22.3 per cent prohibition poll gained three years ago — 375,000 more prohibition votes than won in 1975.

According to Mr Quayle, that gain reflects growing awareness that New Zealand society can no longer afford the-rising toll from alcohol. He says research shows alcohol is responsible for about half all road deaths; half of all adult male drownings; one in five hospital patients; more than seven out of 10 crimes of violence; more than seven out of 10 crimes of dishonesty; two out of five marriage breakdowns: and one in five cases of serious child abuse.

Cost in money terms is estimated at $7OO million: in

terms of suffering it is incalculable, he says.

“From this evidence it is manifest that society as a total is unabale to handle alcohol,” Mr Quayle says. “It concerns me when the moderate drinker claims that a little drink does nobody any harm. We know that " what harm just one little drink can do to the alcoholic.” The moderate drinker who considers alcohol no personal threat is certainly harmed when a spouse, son or daughter, or someone else close is killed or maimed by a drunken driver, Mr Quayle savs.

Prohibition failed in the United States because powerful forces determined it would fail. But in the period it applid there were drops in hospital population, in crimeand in prison population in many states, Mr Quayle says. “Our alliance stands against one of the most powerful lobbies in this country,” he says. “We will notgain prohibition in New Zealand in the next few years but we have a responsibility to educate people and win votes for an eventual majority.” ■