New Auckland alcohol regulations a positive step

The Salvation Army is heartened by the decision by Auckland Council to implement new regulations to reduce alcohol-related harm.

Such a decision takes courage, and can help reduce the significant social harm caused by alcohol abuse in the community. It is also hoped it will set a positive example for councils across the country.

“As a national organisation, we commend Auckland Council's persistence and perseverance with their Local Alcohol Policy (LAP),” says Ana Ika, social policy analyst with The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit (SPPU).

“Auckland Council's courageous decision to implement their LAP not only empowers their community to control how, when, and where alcohol is sold but also inspires other councils across the country to do the same, setting a precedent for safeguarding communities nationwide from alcohol harm.”

Ika adds: “Our Bridge services witness significant levels of alcohol harm affecting our tangata whai ora and their whānau. While our services, and others like ours, are vital in providing support, we are essentially the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. What we truly need are fences at the top of the cliff to safeguard our whānau and mitigate alcohol harm, and the Local Alcohol Policy is one such fence we can build.”

Our annual State of the Nation report shows alcohol remains a significant social hazard in Aotearoa New Zealand. There remains significant concern around the availability of alcoholic beverages, and the impact problem drinking and addiction can have on people’s lives and the lives of people around them.

The Salvation Army Territorial Media Officer, 021 945 337, email: media@salvationarmy.org.nz (The Media Officer responds to enquiries from media outlets and journalists. If you would like to donate, are in need of help, or have some other non-media-related enquiry, please call 0800 53 00 00.)