Drug Foundation - Alcohol

Sale of Liquor (Objections to Applications) Amendment Bill (Submission)

Ross — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +1200

The New Zealand Drug Foundation – Te Tūāpapa Tarukino o Aotearoa welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Sale of Liquor (Objections to Applications) Amendment Bill.

Our comments on this bill are influenced by our guiding principles, including a commitment to evidence-based best practice and policy, and harm minimisation. The Drug Foundation has had a very long interest in ways that the Sale of Liquor Act could be strengthened to reduce alcohol-related harm, and to create a healthier drinking culture in New Zealand; a culture of moderation and support for people who choose to not drink alcohol.

Get active in drug policy

Ross — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1300

Hot topics: alcohol | drug law review

The Government and its agencies, Parliament and other organisations often seek comment and input into drug policy issues. This might be in the form of consultations or inviting submissions to select committees, or seeking expert comment on draft policies.

Alcohol, poverty and development

Catherine — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:55:32 +1200

The use of alcohol presents a dual challenge in developing societies. Alcohol related problems, including addiction, family violence and so on, become an additional burden on families and communities already struggling with poverty. Perversely, experience shows that, once developing societies have begun to reduce poverty problems and create economic growth, alcohol consumption tends to rise, with a corresponding rise in related harm. In this guest editorial, Øystein Bakke introduces us to these issues.

Alcohol has long been in use in most societies throughout history. Normally its use has been regulated by traditions and social norms concerning when, how and by whom it should be consumed. In many locations, however, traditional production is still going on, and new alcoholic products and drinking patterns are compounding already existing problems.

New chief on the block

Catherine — Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 +1200

Early in 2007 ALAC Chief Executive Officer Mike MacAvoy stepped down after 12 years. Incoming CEO, Gerard Vaughan has extensive knowledge and experience within the health sector and is looking forward to applying his skills in the alcohol-related arena. In our Guest Editorial Gerard shares his first impressions of the new role.

This is an exciting time for me as the new kid on the block facing the challenge of learning about alcohol issues and ALAC’s history and involvement in that area. There is also the getting to know all the diverse players around New Zealand and understanding what they’re doing and where they’re heading.

Inquiry into New Zealand’s relationships with South Pacific (Submission)

Catherine — Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 +1200

The Drug Foundation is concerned about the widespread harms caused by drugs in New Zealand communities; the biggest harms are being caused by our legal drugs – alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco cause serious problems on a global scale.

National drug policy

Catherine — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:47:16 +1300

The National Drug Policy (NDP) aims to improve the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders by encouraging the development of strategies and programmes which prevent and reduce drug-related harm.

The NDP is in line with World Health Organization and United Nations recommendations of a balanced approach to drug policy.

Progress under the NDP is reviewed twice yearly by the Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy (MCDP). Initiatives are progressed and monitored by a group of Government agencies that make up the Inter-Agency Committee on Drugs (IACD).

New Zealand police alcohol action plan March 2006

Catherine — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:41:26 +1300

Over the years, police have built up considerable experience in dealing with alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder, and much has been learnt about what works in minimising problems linked to alcohol. Importantly, steps have been taken to look beyond individual incidents to identify patterns in alcohol-related crime and crashes, which has suggested opportunities to better target police interventions.

National alcohol strategy 2000-2003

Catherine — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:38:46 +1300

In a formal sense, the National Alcohol Strategy sits under the New Zealand Health Strategy and the National Drug Policy. The New Zealand Health Strategy sets the platform for change and identifies key priority areas, the National Drug Policy sets out the Government's commitment to minimise all drug related harm; and identifies various priority areas and desired outcomes towards this end.

Law and Order Select Committee report on the purchase age October 2006

Catherine — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 09:07:35 +1300

Sale of Liquor (Youth Alcohol Harm Reduction: Purchase Age) Amendment Bill (260-2A) (20 October 2006)

The Law and Order Committee has examined the Sale of Liquor (Youth Alcohol Harm Reduction: Purchase Age) Amendment Bill and recommends that it be passed with the amendments shown.

Inter-Agency Committee on Drugs (IACD)

Catherine — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 09:01:05 +1300

A monitoring group of officials, the IACD ensures that policies and programmes developed by government agencies are consistent and mutually supportive. The IACD also makes recommendations to the MCDP on new policy initiatives.