Problems foreseen in wine sales

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 5

Problems foreseen in wine sales

By

MICHAEL RENTOUL

Sales of wine in supermarkets and grocery stores would increase alcoholism at a time of retrenchment in health services, says the medical superintendent of Queen Mary Hospital at Hanmer Springs, Dr Robert Crawford.

It was a sad irony that a decision which would lead to increased availability of alcohol came as the hospital faced the prospect of closing, he said. The decision was frustrating and despairing, Dr Crawford said. The absence of a national prevention policy on alcoholism had allowed the decision to pass, he said. Parliament voted 41 to 34 on Tuesday evening to allow sales of wine in supermarkets and grocery stores, reversing its decision of five weeks ago. The bill was “recommitted” (sent back into committee) as it came up for its third reading on the motion of the member of Parliament for Onehunga, Mr Fred Gerbic. . Dr Crawford said about 10 per cent of alcoholism therapy patients at Queen Mary had wine as their favourite drink. Parliament had been swayed by a last-minute amendment which had taken them by surprise, he said. The decision could only lead to increased alcohol sales and increased alcoholism.

A national prevention policy, on World Health Organisation lines, would give members of Parliament a ready reference point and prevent decisions influenced by emotion, he said. It would state that policies which led to increased per capita consumption of alcohol were contrary to public health. Dr Crawford said the decision meant easier access to alcohol for underage and women drinkers, the “unsaturated” end of the market. Supermarket sales would allow wine to be “passed off” as food, when in fact it was a drug. Dr Crawford predicted supermarkets would be subject to the break-ins liquor outlets faced. The chief executive of the Hotel Association, Mr Tom Sheehy, said the number of liquor licences would grow like “mushrooms in a field” as a result of the decision to sell wine in supermarkets. There would be an increase in the number and size of outlets selling liquor. Under the bill, it was possible for entire

streets to be dotted with such premises, he said. Mr Sheehy said the amendment was passed in the most “dubious terms,” as a result of “some political stunt or deal.” The decision on the issue was made some time ago and the use of recommittals was rare. An overwhelming majority of submissions to the select committee studying the bill had opposed increased availability of liquor, and the decision would be opposed by the public, he said. Mr Sheehy said many small outlets, such as wine cellars, could apply to set up a retail outlet or sell other types of liquor when a supermarket down the road started selling the same product. The bill had created “licensing on demand,” he said. Anyone who had the mandatory 1000 sq m of floor space and was of “good character," could apply. “With zoning, it will be every man and his dog applying for a licence,” he said. Dairies, excluded by

the bill from selling wine, could make small changes to pass as grocery stores. The general manager of commercial affairs for the Magnum Corporation, Mr Laurie Doolan, said members of Parliament had not come under “big industry” pressure to reverse their June decision against supermarket wine sales. The corporation, which has supermarket and liquor interests, had not asked for the "openended” licensing system under the bill, he said. The New Zealand wine industry, especially the small wineries, would feel the effect of bulk Australian wine imports on supermarket shelves as Australian wine became duty-free from next vear. The Distribution Workers’ Federation, fearing for the safety of check-out operators, said wine should be sold in a separate section and through a separate till. Otherwise it would put pressure on operators, many of whom were under 20, to stop underage drinkers, the federation’s national secretary, Mr Paul Kimble, said.