Carter David: Sale of Liquor (Youth Alcohol Harm Reduction: Purchase Age) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Carter David: Sale of Liquor (Youth Alcohol Harm Reduction: Purchase Age) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
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Hon DAVID CARTER (National) 
: 
 I will certainly be voting against the Sale of Liquor (Youth Alcohol Harm Reduction: Purchase Age) Amendment Bill tonight but at the outset I say that I respect all the views that have been advanced by those for and against this legislation. The only good thing that will come out of this legislation is that New Zealand again has the chance to debate its irresponsible attitude to alcohol because we as a nation have a problem whereby too many of us do not use alcohol in a responsible manner. But to blame that problem on 120000 young 18 and 19-year-olds is not a responsible way to treat this issue. 
Many of those people got the right to vote in 1998 and I voted at that stage to lower the drinking age and the great majority of young people have accepted that responsibility without difficulty. We are debating this issue in Parliament tonight because of the actions of a few. But I say that more important than trying to blame that particular age group New Zealanders need to accept that we as a nation have a problem. 
I am one of those people who infrequently visit the likes of Courtenay Place—my name is not Winston—but more important as the father of four young children I say that when I go to occasions it gives me no satisfaction to see people of any age drunk and out of control. It is pathetic and is something that we as a society should not accept. But again at those functions the people who are drunk and out of control are certainly not only young. Too many people who are well over the age of 20 give a very bad example in the way they handle alcohol. So the problem is far greater. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: Let’s make it 50. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: Raising the age is not the answer. As a nation we must realise that we have a problem and start to address it. It is around a cultural change and it is around education. I say that out of this debate tonight all the parliamentarians for a start should acknowledge the problem and be prepared to work on it. 
We need to work with the industry. Jim Anderton blames the liquor industry and says not to trust its lobbyists but I say look at the work done by the Beer Wine and Spirits Council. I have seen lots of material from that organisation. It is not about pushing more booze; it is also about trying to portray an attitude that sees booze being used sensibly. Let us also work with non-governmental organisations. I congratulate the Alcohol Advisory Council on the job it is doing because it is out there telling us that we have a problem. Finally I want to see Parliament work with the hospitality industry because those people are at the coalface. They work with the police dealing with people of all ages who are drunk disorderly and violent because they have consumed too much alcohol. 
In summary there is no silver bullet for the problem faced by New Zealand. But to raise the drinking age will not be a solution. The solution starts in the near future with all the Christmas parties and barbecues we will have over the summer when we as adults should drink responsibly particularly in front of our own children. That is where this culture starts and too many times at functions we see older people themselves giving a very bad example to young people in the use of alcohol. 
I say to members tonight that they should vote against the legislation but let us start as a country and as a Parliament finding solutions. Those solutions are in agreeing that it is not acceptable for people to drink alcohol to the extent of becoming drunk pissed and out of control. We must start to handle alcohol responsibly and if we as a nation accept that challenge tonight then we will make progress. It will not be quick progress I hasten to add. I remember just how I learnt to face the challenge of alcohol when I was 18 and 20. But if we as a nation accept that it is a problem for this nation and start to do something about it then some good will have come out of this debate tonight. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I call Jill Pettis. This is a 5-minute shared slot; call 4