Greens seek to table bill restricting advertising of alcohol

A bill to restrict the advertising of alcohol on television and radio was today denied the chance to be heard in Parliament, the Green Party said today.

The Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill was first introduced in to Parliament in 2006 but failed to pass first reading in 2009 when the National party, Phil Goff, and half the Labour Party voted against it.

“Harm minimisation should be the main focus of any legislative change and reducing our saturation exposure to liquor advertising and sponsorship should be a key plank of any alcohol reform package, according to the Law Commission and public health evidence.”

Ms Kedgley said the alcohol industry spends around $73 million a year in directly promoting alcohol products and another $150 million in sponsorship of music and sports events.

“How can the Government's liquor reforms be effective in reducing the binge drinking culture in New Zealand when the liquor and hospitality industries continue to spend $73 million a year promoting alcohol, much of it targeted at young people?

“We already have tough restrictions on tobacco advertising. Alcohol is the second biggest preventable cause of death in New Zealand behind tobacco, so we should have similar restrictions on alcohol advertising.”

Ms Kedgley said that the Green Party would be seeking to amend the legislation in Select Committee to include stronger measures to reduce the advertising, sponsorship and marketing of alcohol.

“There is no logical reason why the Government has decided to not take any serious action to reduce the saturation advertising and sponsorship of liquor in New Zealand.” Ms Kedgley said.

“I am sure its omission is simply a result of successful lobbying over many years by the liquor and hospitality industries.”

Yesterday Justice Minister Simon Power ruled out introducing restrictions on the advertising of alcoholic products despite public health professionals arguing that this would be one of the most effective ways of reducing our binge drinking culture and minimising the harm caused by alcohol.

Ms Kedgley sought leave to introduce the Bill into the house as a Members’ Bill to draw attention to the gap in Minister Power’s alcohol legislation package.

Links

The Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill
http://bit.ly/greenbill0824

Debate and voting record for the Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill
http://bit.ly/liquoradvertisingbill