14 May 2009

Mechanisms for addressing the easy availability of cheap alcohol are just one of the issues to be debated at the Alcohol Advisory Council’s (ALAC) Working Together 2009 conference which opens in Wellington today (May 14).

More than 300 delegates are expected to attend to discuss emerging alcohol-related harm issues and identify challenges and opportunities in the field.

ALAC Chief Executive Officer Gerard Vaughan said the last year had seen issues such as cheap alcohol, easy availability, open all hours policies, location and density of outlets and concern over lack of community input into licensing decisions had hit the headlines.

“Of particular concern is the read availability of cheap alcohol. As the players compete for market share, the resulting lower prices and greater availability has negative consequences for communities, particularly for the most vulnerable groups.

“Alcohol prices have an effect on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm. Consumers of alcoholic beverages respond to changes in alcohol prices, and this includes heavy or problem drinkers, by purchasing more.

“The lower the price the more it encourages people to drink and when we as a nation start to drink then we have a tendency to drink to intoxication and we are all paying for that as – every one of us.”

Mr Vaughan said the Law Commission had floated the idea of a rise in excise tax to increase alcohol prices. Another mechanism which would be outlined to the conference by the international guest speaker was minimum price.

The international keynote speaker is Dr Peter Rice who is a member of the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) Executive Committee. Dr Rice is one of Scotland's leading medical voices on alcohol and has played a key role in influencing the Scottish Government on the areas of alcohol services and effective alcohol policy such as the introduction of minimum price for alcohol. Dr Rice addresses the conference on Thursday.

On Friday the Law Commission President Sir Geoffrey Palmer will speak on the Commission’s review of New Zealand’s regulatory framework of alcohol which will be followed by a workshop on reform options.

Other keynote speakers include Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne; New Zealand Drug Foundation Executive Director Ross Bell and Queenstown Mayor Clive Geddes.

The two day conference is being held in at the Intercontinental Hotel in Wellington on Thursday May 14 and Friday May 15.