Lee Melissa: Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill — First Reading 
Lee Melissa: Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:652;Page:1811] 
MELISSA LEE (National) 
: 
 I rise to support the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill which amends three Acts relating to liquor including the 20-year-old Sale of Liquor Act 1989. The attempt to reduce the opportunity for society and individuals to be harmed by the misuse or excessive consumption of alcohol is obviously supported by the whole House and many statistics have been given by previous speakers more senior than me. It is lovely to see for the first time since I have been in the House that everybody agrees or seems to agree. 
New Zealand has a permissive drinking environment. We have quite a relaxed attitude towards having a few after work at social gatherings and at the dinner table. Like my colleague I too will not try to be pious about my drinking. I enjoy a glass of wine; about this time of the night I like a glass of wine but I did not partake tonight. Yet with our relaxed attitude to alcohol consumption there is a concern around the social supply of liquor to minors. At one time or another we have all witnessed unsupervised drinking in large quantities by minors and some of us have participated in it—several decades ago. 
To address the drinking behaviour of minors we need to change the behaviour of individuals and communities. To make this happen we need a supportive regulatory environment and a public that is aware and owns up to the challenges we face with this issue. We need consistent and effective enforcement. Having been the holder of a liquor licence I know how important it is for licensed premises to be responsible hosts. Compliance by industry will also help to address drinking behaviour. 
I learnt how to drink from my parents. I was allowed to drink the froth off my parents’ beer when they were having one; I was allowed to acquire the taste for wine and spirits with little sips; and I was eventually allowed a full glass of wine when I became legal age. Many responsible parents do this. In fact 92 percent of parents agree that the primary responsibility for helping teenagers learn how to handle alcohol responsibly belongs to parents. However there is growing concern regarding the extent of alcohol-related harm and I know that many communities are frustrated by their inability to manage that harm. There is a need for us to improve local control over where to whom when and how alcohol can be sold in communities to ensure that the social impact is taken into account in licensing conditions. 
 Something I really like about this bill is the introduction of new offences for adults supplying liquor to minors without the consent of a parent or guardian—that has to be good. The bill increases penalties and limits the defence for those selling alcohol to minors. For me the best part is that inexperienced drivers aged under 20 who do not have their full licence will have to have a blood-alcohol level of zero. I know that that will not be popular with some young people but most of New Zealand will applaud it. 
This legislation is part of a priority area for this Government—looking at a variety of alcohol-related issues—so I support this bill and hope it passes through its first reading to enable select committee hearings to commence in the not too distant future. I commend this bill to the House.