Yan says drinking ban will not solve Wellington's problems

Jack Yan, who is standing for mayor, says the drinking ban proposed by the Wellington City Council will do little to quell the problems with alcohol-related crime.

While he says he supports law and order, and ensuring that front-line police have the resources they need, Mr Yan says problem drinkers can only be dealt with by addressing the root causes.

Mr Yan says many of the factors leading people to drink irresponsibly stem from the economy, something he is prepared to address if elected.

Wellington’s rise in joblessness to 7·3 per cent, the upcoming rise in GST and a lack of certainty from government would conspire to increase drinking problems in the city, he says, regardless of whatever bylaws are passed.

‘What no one seems to want to talk about is how to fix the economy, both nationally and locally,’ he says. ‘If we begin creating jobs, and give people some hope about their futures, then it’s more than likely drinking problems and alcohol-related crimes will come down.’

Mr Yan says he has proposed a jobs’ plan as part of his mayoral campaign, beginning with offering free wireless internet and encouraging creative clusters.

‘As the most creative city in the country, we can collectively attract greater investment, increase Wellingtonians’ standard of living, and solve some of our social problems without going through the expense of more signs and more laws.’

About Jack Yan
Jack Yan founded Jack Yan & Associates (http://jya.net), one of the world’s first virtual firms, in 1987. His company is based or represented in over a dozen countries worldwide. Among his company’s interests are business consulting, imaging, software and media, including the fashion magazine brand Lucire. He writes on topics, ranging from branding and business responsibility to fashion and typography, in numerous publications worldwide and is a regular international speaker. His personal site is at www.jackyan.com, and features a highly regarded blog. He is a director of the Medinge Group (http://medinge.org), a think-tank in Sweden devoted to cutting-edge branding.

About Jack Yan & Associates
Started in 1987, Jack Yan & Associates is a communications’ company with businesses in brand consulting, font software and media. JY&A Consulting is connected to the Medinge Group think-tank of Sweden, through its founder Jack Yan. JY&A Fonts is New Zealand’s first digital typefoundry and the leading player in the country. JY&A Media is an early pioneer in online publishing, with its first digital magazine launched in 1992; its ventures include Lucire, the international fashion magazine. Jack Yan & Associates is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, but has divisions, representatives, licensees and other presences globally.

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