Lotu-Iiga Peseta Sam: Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill — First Reading 
Lotu-Iiga Peseta Sam: Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:655;Page:4870] 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) 
: 
 I rise to speak against the Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill a bill that was introduced by Jeanette Fitzsimons in 2006 and has been carried forward by the new co-leader of the Greens Metiria Turei. I along with my colleague the Hon Jonathan Coleman also see the irony in what is being put forward in this bill given what was debated in the previous bill which involved the liberalisation of marijuana. I speak against this bill first and foremost because its content is already covered by other legislation and reviews that are currently going through the House. 
It is a challenging issue as the three previous speakers have already mentioned in that on the one hand we see the damage that alcohol does in our society but on the other hand we also have to recognise and acknowledge freedom of speech and the freedom to advertise legal products. It is a very dangerous path to travel when we regulate completely against the advertising of what can be when consumed in moderate amounts an enjoyable product. It is really challenging the freedom of the majority of the adult population who drink and drink responsibly. But for those who do not drink responsibly would a ban on alcohol advertising right across the board have any effect? For those who go about on Friday or Saturday nights and get shall we say plastered or drunk or create havoc whether a ban would have any impact on those people is rather questionable indeed. 
This bill addresses only selected aspects of liquor management and in my view it pre-empts other legislation going through the House. Really rather than banning advertising outright we should give wider consideration to context. There is the sale of alcohol its supply and as one of the previous speakers mentioned its control and consumption—for example the licensing of retailers who sell alcohol as well as point of sale requirements at the point of retail or wholesale distribution. Another aspect that is particularly important in mitigating the damage that alcohol does in our society is the public education about the consumption of alcohol particularly by our youth. 
This bill has also been overtaken by the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill which was introduced last year by the previous Government and which had its first reading in March of this year. It is currently before the Justice and Electoral Committee which will report back on 10 September. So in my view this bill is highly redundant. As we have already heard the Law Commission is also undertaking a full review of the Sale of Liquor Act and it has been made clear to the commission that liquor issues are a matter of priority for this Government. We have asked the Law Commission to produce a report ahead of the scheduled date that the previous Government set for it and again that is an example of this Government taking action where the previous Government lapsed into inaction. So I speak against this bill. I think it is redundant I do not think it is good legislation and I thank members for their time.