Liberalised liquor laws report prompts warning

Press, 7 April 1987, Page 14

Liberalised liquor laws report prompts warning

PA Wellington Alcohol-related problems are likely to increase significantly if liquor is made more widely available, says Dr Kenneth Cooke of Otago University’s preventive and social medicine department.

In a letter in the “British Medical Journal,” Dr Cooke berates the Gov-ernment-appointed Working Party on Liquor’s report, made public in November.

The working party, chaired by the former Chief Ombudsman, Sir George taking, called for the drinking age to be lowered to 18, removal of rigid hotel hours, scrapping of public bars, a wider range of liquor outlets, reduction in the types of

licence from 29 to four, and the Licensing Control Commission’s role to be taken over by local authorities.

The report, which has been widely criticised, is defended by the working party on the grounds that it is better to acknowledge the status quo, and legislate to .ensure that the law is not broken in future.

While the report and accompanying draft legislation have been seen as relaxations in liquor laws, they also recommend strigent penalties for liquor law offences.

Dr Cooke says that though the working party included a lawyer, Mr Alan Dormer, with extensive experience in liquor law, there was no balanc-

ing appointment of someone with professional experience of alcohol in public health. The recommended changes would mean a drift backwards in preventing alcohol problems. “The report was released in the midst of the university marking period, just before the Christmas rush and our subsequent general summer holiday,” he said.

“To date there has been little public discussion of the report, and my impression is that few members of the public are aware of it and its implications. “Should the draft bill become law, alcohol-re-lated problems would be expected to increase significantly.