Hutchison Paul: Alcohol Reform Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hutchison Paul: Alcohol Reform Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 06 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7289. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to speak on this Alcohol Reform Bill. Firstly I would like to acknowledge all of those people who have worked so hard right around New Zealand with the aim and objective of minimising alcohol harm. In particular I recognise the Law Commission for its work. 
Secondly I want to acknowledge the good constituents of Hunua who have continued to have great interest in this reform bill. Even next Monday I am going to be meeting with them on these issues because they have been so interested. But I do make the note that there has been a spectrum of views many recognising that 80 percent of New Zealanders do indeed drink responsibly. However one of the things that did happen in Pukekohe over the last few months has been the sudden rush for licences prior to this legislation coming in and that did indeed disturb a lot of people because there was nothing that could be done about it. 
Thirdly I would like to acknowledge the unrelenting efforts of Professor Doug Sellman and many medical practitioners right throughout New Zealand who remind us that this is a public health issue and that it will take a suite of initiatives to sustainably reduce harm. I think it is really important to point out that this is not a single silver bullet issue. This does require a whole suite of efforts with an evidence base behind it. That is one of the reasons that it is so difficult to sustain a reduction of alcohol harm. We have seen perverse reactions throughout history in many jurisdictions right throughout the world. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: What happened with tobacco? How can a doctor stand in the House and say this? 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: It is not as simple as tobacco and I want to make that very clear. But I think there is one area where I particularly as a former obstetrician am very concerned— 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Tobacco wasn’t simple. The same pressure was applied by the same people. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: I wish she would stop screeching and just focus on the thing in focus. What I wanted to point out once again was this worrying concern about what alcohol does to immature brains particularly foetal brains. The younger they are right up to the age of 25 we know that there is considerable damage. 
I must say that I want to pay tribute to the fact that the Counties Manukau District Health Board has recently put in a maternity review and a maternity action plan. One of its views is very much to go into the community and look right beyond conception even to have a robust comprehensive reproductive health policy and to make sure that young women and young men are aware of the problems that can occur to young foetuses so that they can make wise decisions themselves. 
Professor Sellman had five general policy directions and they include of course the price of alcohol. Indeed this is very problematic. No matter what Kevin Hague says we have got the evidence from Scotland. It is not clear at all and it is something that the Government is looking at very carefully. The purchase age of course Parliament has dealt with. As for decreasing the availability of alcohol indeed this bill does address that area. Decreasing the marketing and advertising of alcohol again is being addressed by this bill. Increasing drink-drive measures is an area that requires a clear evidence base behind it. I suggest that it is very very important that we do have that evidence base behind our policies if we are going to sustain a reduction in harm. 
One of the areas that I do believe has been of particular importance has been starting with local communities and it has been met with agreement right throughout this country. Councils will be able to develop local alcohol policies that restrict or extend trading hours limit the location and density of licences and impose conditions on licensed premises and people in the community will be able to object to a licence application in certain circumstances.