Lees-Galloway Iain: Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill — First Reading 
Lees-Galloway Iain: Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:652;Page:1797] 
IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Labour—Palmerston North) 
: 
 I rise very much in support of the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill. This is another bill that I get to speak on that was originally introduced by the previous Labour Government. A lot of hard work was done then by Lianne Dalziel as was acknowledged by the Minister of Justice Simon Power. 
The bill amends the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 the Summary Offences Act 1981 and the Land Transport Act 1998 to implement recommendations arising from the recent reviews of the sale and supply of liquor to minors the sale of liquor and liquor enforcement issues. It also introduces a new system of enforced self-regulation of alcohol advertising. 
The objectives of the bill are to support a more moderate drinking environment and culture to reduce the normalisation of youth drinking to enhance the responsibility of friends and adults who supply alcohol to minors to increase youth responsibility and accountability to improve compliance and responsibility of the industry to increase community input into licensing decisions and to clarify the types of premises that may hold off-licences. 
The health impacts of the misuse and abuse of alcohol are wide ranging and deeply felt by our community. They range from injury to cancers to heart disease and several other health impacts. The costs in dollar terms are quite immense where they can actually be measured. In New Zealand we estimate that the alcohol harm costs somewhere between $1 billion and $4 billion a year. It costs the public health sector something like $655 million. In crime and related costs it costs $240 million. In social welfare it costs $200 million and in other Government spending it costs $330 million. In lost productivity it costs about $1.17 billion. Those numbers are enormous and drive the need to address the drinking culture in this country. It is something that we have talked about a lot but finding some form of legislation to deal with it has been difficult. This is a good first port of call. 
Labour introduced this bill whilst in Government because we take the issue of alcohol-related harm very seriously. Labour of course also initiated the Law Commission review of New Zealand’s liquor laws and I look forward to the results of that review. As the Minister pointed out it is timely that we take a look at our liquor laws because it has been an extraordinarily long time since the last comprehensive review back in the mid-1980s. 
One of the things that I think is most important about this bill is the opportunity it gives to communities to take ownership of the alcohol issue within their own community. The ability for local authorities to provide an alcohol plan and for that plan to have some meaning is a substantial part of this bill. 
It is worth noting the support that this bill has received from within the health industry. Recently the Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Alistair Humphrey said: “Our pubs and clubs by and large are responsible hosts just as the specialised bottle shops are responsible retailers. That so many of the central city outlets sell to children who are so young demonstrates how difficult it is for these businesses to stay within the law. A move towards restricting off-licences in the central city will protect our children protect our city communities and indeed protect the convenience store businesses themselves from the further prosecutions they will undoubtedly face.” 
Alcohol is very much a public health issue. Certainly the Minister has covered the justice side of the issues but it is very important that we pay attention to the public health issues and the harm that the misuse of alcohol does to our communities. It is for that reason that the Labour Party is supporting this bill being referred to the select committee and we look forward to the submissions that the select committee receives. 
We need to think about what this bill is not going to do. It is not some sort of witch-hunt for people who drink responsibly nor is it a witch-hunt for retailers who have a responsible attitude towards the sale of liquor. It is about clarifying the rules it is about communities taking ownership and it is about reducing the harm related to alcohol. It is not about cracking down on the sensible responsible use of alcohol by the majority of New Zealanders. It is about the responsibility of families and the responsibilities that parents have in taking care of their children and the young people whom they are responsible for and building a responsible drinking environment and culture within their families and within their communities. 
I look forward to the progress of this bill. I look forward to the work that will be done at the select committee. We take note of the Minister highlighting the areas he would like the select committee to look at— 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Very subtly! 
IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY 
:—ha ha—particularly closely and I look forward to speaking again on this bill when it returns to the House.