The Salvation Army sees the effects of alcohol-related harm on New Zealanders’ lives every-day across its centres around the country.
We believe that it is vital that the object of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (the ‘Act’), which is to minimise the range of harms caused by the excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol, is kept central to any discussion around amendments to the Act. It is notable that these minor amendments have arisen out of lobbying from the retail and alcohol industry.
Whilst The Salvation Army supports the changes proposed in principle, we submit that the robust recommendations of the Law Commission’s 2010 report Alcohol in our lives: Curbing the Harm are still given priority in any discussion of the working of the Act. There are multiple recommendations made by the Law Commission that have not been implemented, and yet have great potential to reduce the economic and social harm of New Zealand’s drinking culture. The Salvation Army would welcome a bigger reform which would provide an opportunity to better assess the current challenges and problems with the Act.