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Tag: New Zealand

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol Update: New Zealand Tightens Alcohol Advertising Laws

    With alcohol advertising on the agenda in Oz recently it is interesting to see that New Zealand has altered its alcohol advertising laws. Alcohol advertising and promotion may no longer carry any environmental benefits of drinking and any ambiguous messages will no longer be allowed in NZ.The changes will come into effect as of January 2013.

    At the centre of the debate in Oz are questions about the effect of alcohol advertising on children in particular. Research shows that alcohol advertising and marketing messages are getting through to children and young people well below the legal drinking age. This is promoting underage drinking and the negative consequences that it brings. These advertisements and marketing strategies are making children and minors more accepting of alcohol and about the positive expectations about alcohol’s effects.

    Because of the damaging physical and psychological effects of alcohol they should be educated about its effects and not numbed to the consequences of binge drinking. Not only does it hamper their growth and affect their fragile emotional states but also hinders their psychological development, as many studies have proven.  Perhaps New Zealand’s example is one to be followed, if not entirely but at least in part.

     

  • New Zealanders vote to keep Minimum alcohol age at 18

    The Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key expressed his disappointment over a vote by parliament which elected to keep the minimum alcohol purchase age at 18 rather than reverting back to 20. The result is interesting and Aussies should use this as an example as many of the same alcohol related problems present in NZ are plaguing Aussies as well.

    Although the prime minister and many members of the community were saddened by the result, youth in NZ were revelling at the decision.

    Parliament threw out the proposal after most of the voters in parliament decided to keep the alcohol purchase age as is, this despite the public expressing their concern for the alcohol purchase age, according to the prime minister.

    The Alcohol Reform Bill which has been tabled in parliament is aimed at curbing binge drinking and there are still other proposals on the bill that are aimed at doing just that.

    The Bill is also proposing to give communities a greater say on the location of liquor stores as well as restricting the types of stores that can sell alcohol and introducing maximum trading hours. It will also make it an offence to promote alcohol in a way that is appealing to minors.

    The Alcohol Reform Bill will most probably be passed into law later in 2012.