Police submission to Law Commission on Alcohol released

Police has released its submission to the Law Commission on the reform of liquor laws.

Assistant Commissioner Grant Nicholls said Police made a comprehensive submission to the commission because alcohol misuse is a crucial issue for Police and for NZ families and communities.

Alcohol is the drug that most impacts on offending and victimisation in New Zealand and therefore causes the most problems for Police and the public.

Alcohol issues impact on all facets of police work and community well-being (drink driving, family and public place violence, youth issues, homicides and the management and care of intoxicated people).

At least a third of all recorded offences are committed by an offender who consumed alcohol prior to the committing the offence.

Police has given strong support to the Law Commission and was particularly pleased to facilitate Law Commission staff coming out with Police to see the reality of what Police face on a daily basis across New Zealand.

"Police strongly support reform of NZ liquor laws and hope our contribution will lead to a more effective regulatory framework that will reduce the impact of alcohol-related harm in New Zealand," Mr Nicholls says.

"Our submission recognised that a full range of interventions are required to reduce alcohol-related harm. Police recognise that issues such as advertising, price and treatment services are key issues. However, these matters are outside Police's expertise. Our submission focused on those proposals that fell within Police business."

The Police submission considered approximately 70 of the Law Commission's proposals. Changes that Police would like to see (not in any particular order) are:

• A reduction in the trading hours of licensed premises;
• An increase in the purchase age;
• The ability to put wider conditions on licensed premises for the purpose of reducing alcohol-related harm;
• Allow for liquor licences to be refused on wider grounds than at present;
• Greater ability to deal with problematic premises.

The full submission can be found at http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/index.html