PM praised for taking stand over alcohol

One of New Zealand’s leading car safety experts has praised the Prime Minister for taking a stand over the easy access to alcohol in poor areas.

Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide, said today:

“The rise in youth drinking is simply the result younger people having easier access to alcohol. The only real way to reverse youth drinking is to restrict youths’ access to alcohol. It’s that simple.”

“Before the drinking age was lowered we had 20-year-olds buying alcohol for 18-year olds. Now we have 18-year-olds buying alcohol for 16 year olds, and the terrible results are there for everyone to see.”

Alcohol is directly implicated in around one quarter of road deaths and 35% of all types of injury. The Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council’s annual survey of 12 –17-year-olds showed that one-quarter of 14–17-year-olds drink heavily and regularly.

“P is a drop in the ocean compared to alcohol. Alcohol is wrecking lives across the country, but especially among poor people, and especially among poor, young people.”

The number of licensed premises in New Zealand has risen from 6295 to 14,970 since 1989. Licensed premises are often heavily concentrated in poor areas.

Matthew-Wilson says the idea that alcohol is a matter of personal responsibility is “laughable”.

“In the real world, the people most likely to drink are least likely to be able to control the consequences. Messy people drink and drinking makes messy people violent.”

“The reality is that people – especially young people – are not making informed choices about drinking. Instead these drinkers are making appallingly bad choices and wrecking lives in the process.”