Nash Stuart: Alcohol Advisory Council Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Nash Stuart: Alcohol Advisory Council Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:652;Page:1894] 
STUART NASH (Labour) 
: 
 I rise to speak in support of the Alcohol Advisory Council Amendment Bill and as my colleagues have done I welcome the changes that this bill will facilitate. Any bill that provides a level of consistency across any form of industry and/or product can be only a positive step in the right direction. Even though this bill is technical in nature we must as parliamentarians always work to ensure that all legislation is fair up to date and simple to calculate. We must also work to ensure that as far as possible legislation is future-proofed to take into account possibilities imagined but not yet realised. 
This legislation had its genesis in the 2004 Ministry of Health review of the levy-setting mechanisms outlined in the Alcohol Advisory Council Act 1976. The review found four major issues concerning the methodology around the Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) levy calculation and apportionment. First the levy-setting mechanism is out of date. The alcohol market has changed considerably since 1976 and the provisions no longer reflect the range of alcohol now consumed in New Zealand. Second the spirits category requires the calculation of proof letters a concept that is no longer in use and has been replaced with litres of alcohol in terms of determining excise duty. Third the current levy-setting mechanism is unnecessarily complex and fourth section 27 of the Alcohol Advisory Council Act 1976 does not have a process by which Cabinet can be involved in the levy-setting process. 
This bill solves the problems that exist in the current levy-setting mechanisms by introducing an updated and simple calculation system that reflects the current alcohol market. As has been noted this bill does not address concerns around the abuse of alcohol in our society and it does not debate the social issues around the causes of alcohol abuse and misuse. However as is the case with the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill—another Labour-introduced bill before the House—any legislation that helps our communities to be better served through education and enlightenment around the healthy and safe use of alcohol is a start and I think we would all agree with that. Our communities deserve this and our constituents demand this for the sake of our diverse communities and society as a whole. 
I think we all know that ALAC does a magnificent job and is a very important body in terms of the delivery of social outcomes to our diverse communities. As has been previously mentioned ALAC was set up by Norman Kirk’s third Labour Government on the recommendation of a formal commission of inquiry into the sale of liquor and it is just one of many examples of Labour putting in place important social agencies and advisory councils to help educate our diverse communities around the issues confronting all New Zealanders either directly or indirectly. 
Like many previous speakers I think that if we went to the ALAC website we would see that it has had about four or five times more hits than it would normally have in a day. Let me talk about ALAC’s vision. I ask members whether they have heard it before. 
Dr Jackie Blue 
: Say it again; it’s a good one. 
STUART NASH 
: Yes it is worth reinforcing because it is a very important agency. ALAC’s vision as its website states is for “A New Zealand drinking culture that supports the moderate use of alcohol so that whanau and communities enjoy life free from alcohol harms”. The website goes on: “We will know we are on track when New Zealanders share responsibility for: minimising harm that results from alcohol misuse in our communities families and whanau; a culture where all aspire to moderate consumption and reject drunkenness or choose abstinence if that is best for them; widespread understanding of the harms associated with the misuse of alcohol; supporting the measures that control the environments where alcohol is consumed; ensuring that those who do have problems with alcohol consumption will have access to appropriate support and treatment for themselves their whanau families and communities.” 
I do not think anyone would disagree that those are very laudable goals and objectives. ALAC has a budget of only $12.7 million but many of us will be familiar with ALAC’s work. Members may be pleasantly surprised to learn that DB Breweries Lion Nathan and the Wine Institute are among the organisations that endorse ALAC’s work. Even these companies understand that sensible drinking is the only way we can keep ourselves and our communities safe. 
An example of ALAC’s work is the current campaign saying “It’s not the drinking. It’s how we’re drinking.” In my view this is very effective. It is a salient campaign because it takes alcoholism and binge drinking out of the scenes of pubs and bars and puts it into contexts that we all recognise. There are real people in these ads. These are the guys we play rugby with. They are our girlfriends work colleagues mothers fathers and wives. Now when I say “our girlfriends” I am not talking about “my girlfriend”. That is a generic statement of course. Goodness me! Alcoholism knows no social or economic barriers. I am saying that the advertisement brings our families and the families of our nation into it. We are all affected by the destructive consequences of binge drinking. 
It also appears that alcohol consumption does not recognise age or political affiliation. There are some absolutely dreadful statistics for 12 to 17-year-olds. How about the following: 17 percent of 12 to 17-year-olds reported that getting alcohol is not a problem and 24 percent said they can afford as much alcohol as they want. Goodness me! One in three make no attempt to limit their drinking. We are not talking about university students here; we are talking about high school students. One-third of young people reported that they make no attempt to limit the amount of alcohol they drink—so they do not care about waking up with a hangover. Thirty percent reported that they make no attempt not to drink so much that they forget what is happening. Many claim that it is OK to get drunk—these are 12 to 17-year-olds. Fifty percent reported that it is OK to get drunk as long as it is not every day. Sixty-one percent disagreed with the statement that it is never OK to get drunk. 
As for adults well goodness me! Twenty-seven percent of adults reported they feel more confident when they drink alcohol. Twenty-four percent agreed that everything seems happier when they drink alcohol. Thirty-nine percent agreed that when they drink alcohol it is easier to meet people and to get to know people. Forty-five percent claimed they enjoyed the buzz they got when they drank alcohol and 68 percent claimed that drinking alcohol helped them to unwind and relax. Goodness me! Are we that pent up and frustrated? Twenty-three percent disagreed with the statement that they limit the amount of alcohol that they drink so they do not wake up with a hangover. I could go on—and they are pretty damning statistics are they not? Members can find all those statistics on the ALAC website and I urge them to go to it because there is some great stuff on that website. 
We are drinking more as a nation. The total volume of alcoholic beverage available for consumption in December 2005 was 458.8 million litres which is an increase of 14.1 million litres compared with December 2004. That is 100 litres per man woman and child in this country. So when we think about the harm caused through excessive consumption of alcohol by those who lose control under the influence we understand how necessary it is for an organisation such as ALAC to exist. As members of Parliament we have all heard stories from victims who have felt and experienced the misuse of alcohol. There is an ad about people who have been affected by drink-driving and it shows the drinker being referred to as “Mate!” but later just as “Dave.” 
I contend that ALAC’s role is extremely important and will become more so as the economic crisis starts to deepen even further into the bowels of society. Currently 7 percent of adults who drink say they do so to escape reality. ALAC undertakes valuable research disseminates information and runs educational programmes and innovative treatment programmes designed to target those at risk. For those and other reasons I support the passage of this bill through the House.