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More than 20 years have passed since the framework for the sale of liquor laws was established by the 1986 Working Party on Liquor. The resulting Sale of Liquor Act 1989 has been amended many times over the years, and its overall coherence has been undermined. The Commission engaged in a comprehensive review to examine and evaluate the current laws and policies relating to the sale, supply and consumption of liquor in New Zealand. On 27 April 2010 The Commission published its final report on the review of the regulatory framework for the sale and supply of liquor, entitled 'Alcohol In Our Lives: Curbing the Harm' (NZLC R114, Wellington 2010). The report contains 153 recommendations to Government, which are currently under consideration.
References to the review in the media
NZ Herald 'Raise alcohol buying age: poll' 2 July 2012
Stuff 'Nats to discuss booze prices with industry' 30 June 2012
Scoop 'Longer hours, more harm' 22 May 2012
Dominion Post 'Editorial: Collins' plan won't stop teens drinking' 4 May 2012
Dominion Post 'Bill 'makes it easier for teens to drink'' 3 May 2012
Stuff 'Alcohol bill nothing more than a red herring' 3 May 2012
Voxy 'Alcohol reform - yeah right, says Salvation Army' 2 May 2012
Rotorua Daily Post 'MPs set to vote on raising drinking age' 2 May 2012
NZ Herald ‘Drinking age debate to hit parliament’ 1 May 2012
TV3 ‘Government moves to ban alcohol from dairies’ 1 May 2012
NZ City/NewsTalk ‘Greens: Alcohol Bill changes 'don't go far enough'’ 1 May 2012
Alcohol Action NZ via Scoop ‘The Alcohol Non-Reform Bill’ 1 May 2012
NZLC R114 Alcohol In Our Lives: Curbing the Harm
Obtain a Hard Copy
Buy Now: $30.00- publications@lawcom.govt.nz
- Tel: +64 (04) 473 3453
- Fax: +64 (04) 471 0959
Published 27 Apr 2010
'Alcohol In Our Lives: Curbing the Harm' is the Commission’s final report on the review of New Zealand’s liquor laws. The terms of reference for the review required the Commission to consider a broad range of issues including: the adequacy of the current liquor licensing laws; alcohol taxation and pricing; advertising; age restrictions and the responsibilities of parents with respect to adolescent drinking.The report contains 153 recommendations to Government and is divided into four parts. Part 1 summarises the public consultation findings and outlines the case for legal reform; Part 2 sets out the detailed framework for a new licensing system; Part 3 deals with alcohol taxation and pricing and the promotion of alcohol and Part 4 addresses alcohol offences, education and treatment. The 32 page extracted Summary of the full report can be downloaded separately. A limited number of hardcopies are available for purchase. The Report was tabled in Parliament on 27 April 2010. Review of the Regulatory Framework for the Sale and Supply of Liquor Submissions Analysis A separate report on the 2,939 public submissions on the Commission’s Issues Paper, ('Alcohol In Our Lives' (NZLC IP15, Wellington 2009) is also available. This 48 page report prepared by independent consultants, Litmus, contains an analysis of all 2,939 submissions across seven key policy areas: licensing; opening hours; purchase/drinking age; off-licences; tax and price; advertising and drinking in a public place. It also contains an in depth analysis of different stakeholder positions across the full range of policy options. The policies analysed in this report are those that were put forward as provisional options for public debate in the Commission’s Issues Paper published in July 2009.
NZLC R106 Review of Regulatory Framework for the Sale and Supply of Liquor: Part 1: Alcohol Legislation and the Conscience Vote
Obtain a Hard Copy
Buy Now: $20.00- publications@lawcom.govt.nz
- Tel: +64 (04) 473 3453
- Fax: +64 (04) 471 0959
Published 12 May 2009The Commission's latest report, Review of Regulatory Framework for the Sale and Supply of Liquor: Part 1: Alcohol Legislation and the Conscience Vote (NZLC R106, Wellington 2009) examines the use of the conscience vote in the New Zealand House of Representatives. It explains how conscience voting differs from standard party-based voting. The report then looks at why conscience voting has historically been so popular for Bills dealing with the sale and supply of alcohol. The report suggests that it is preferable that future alcohol Bills be subject to standard party-based voting given the risks conscience voting poses to the clarity and effectiveness of the laws passed by Parliament.
NZLC IP15 Alcohol In Our Lives
Obtain a Hard Copy
Available online only.Published 30 Jul 2009'Alcohol In Our Lives' (NZLC IP15, Wellington 2009) is an Issues Paper which reviews the regulatory framework relating to the sale and supply of liquor. The Commission welcomes comments or submissions on the Issues Paper, which is available by clicking on the document below, or on the Have Your Say tab on the navigation bar above, which will allow you to make a submission online. The closing date for submissions is Friday 30 October 2009. Submissions should be directed to the Liquor Project Coordinator, Law Commission, PO Box 2590, Wellington 6140, or by email to liquor@lawcom.govt.nz . Hard copies of the Issues Paper are no longer available. A summary of the paper can be downloaded from this website or at www.talklaw.co.nz
NZLC OP5 Summary - Alcohol In Our Lives
Published 10 Aug 2009The occasional paper is a summary of the Commission's Issues Paper, 'Alcohol In Our Lives' (NZLC IP15) which reviews the regulatory framework relating to the sale and supply of liquor. There is a submission form included in the summary which can be sent back to the Commission with your comments on the review. Submissions close at 5pm, 30 October 2009. For enquiries email liquor@lawcom.govt.nz
NZLC OP6 Alcohol In Our Lives - Public Consultation Process
Published 19 Mar 2010During the public consultation process on Alcohol In Our Lives:An Issues Paper On The Reform Of New Zealand's Liquor Laws (NZLC IP15,2009), we received submissions from many organisations and indivduals. The organisations that made a submission to the Commission are listed in this Occasional Paper.
Press Releases
Alcohol in Our Lives: Curbing the Harm
Published 27 Apr 2010The Law Commission’s Report 114, 'Alcohol In Our Lives: Curbing the Harm’, was tabled in Parliament today.
Speech at The Auckland Rotary Club
Published 23 Nov 2009Speech by Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President of the Law Commission on the Sale of Liquor at The Auckland Rotary Club.
Submissions on Sale of Liquor
Published 30 Oct 2009Press release by Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President of the Law Commission on the Submissions on Sale of Liquor.
Alcohol In Our Lives
Published 30 Jul 2009'Alcohol In Our Lives' (NZLC IP 15)released today, reviews the regulatory framework relating to the sale and supply of liquor
Alcohol, Health & the Law Commission's Liquor Review
Published 15 May 2009Speech given by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer to the Alcohol Advisory Council, 'Working Together' Conference, in Wellington on 15 May 2009.
The Law Commission's Liquor Review
Published 12 May 2009The Law Commission today released a report that suggests an end to the conscience vote for liquor bills.
The Law Commission's Liquor Review
Published 24 Apr 2009Speech given by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the NZ Police 'Alcohol Related Harm' Breakfast, in Nelson on 24 April 2009.
The Law Commission's Liquor Review
Published 24 Feb 2009Speech given by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the PAN Liquor Industry Symposium in Auckland on 24 February 2009.
Comprehensive Review of Regulatory Framework for the Sale and Supply of Liquor
Published 6 Aug 2008The Law Commission welcomes the reference from the Government on the Sale of Liquor Act.
Speeches
Speech - ALAC Conference in Auckland
Given 6 May 2010Speech given by Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President of the Law Commission at the ALAC Conference on the Sale of Liquor project at the TelstraClear Events Centre in Auckland on 6th May 2010.