“We fail to see how the introduction of a split purchase age will do anything apart from creating a situation where it will be illegal for a 20 year old to supply alcohol to a 17 year old but not to a 18 or 19 year old. This will create a culture of supplying alcohol to those under the purchase age, which defeats the purpose of making it an offence to supply to those under 18 years old.

“Alcohol abuse is not solely a youth problem, and by focusing on the age of a drinker rather then on their actions and the harm caused, the Government is making scapegoats out of young people”.

This is supported by Professor Doug Selleman, the director of Christchurch’s National Addiction Centre, whose research found that 92 percent of New Zealand’s heavy drinkers were 20 years and over, and 70 percent were 25 and over.

“The focus should be on measures that target all problem drinkers regardless of age, that’s why the Young Nats welcome such measures as widening the definition of ‘public place’ and strengthening the existing offence of promotion of excessive consumption of alcohol.

“A real change in New Zealand’s drinking culture won’t occur until more emphasis on individual responsibility is placed on those individuals who engage in violent, disorderly, antisocial behaviour, or drink to excess.

“At present many escape the real cost and consequences of their behaviour. Let’s enforce the existing law more effectively before we start passing more. There were only 91 prosecutions for supply to a minor last year (resulting in 27 convictions), and only one for supply to an intoxicated person.

“The Young Nats together with Young Labour, ACT on Campus and Young Greens will be calling on all MPs to vote against the creation of a split drinking age”, says Daniel Fielding.

The Friday Night drinks will be held at Eclipse Bar, on Willis Street, from 7pm onwards.

The Saturday Night BYO dinner will be at Tulsi.
…
We are delighted to confirm that Katherine Rich, David Patterson and Neil Millar will be coming to speak to us.

Topics and a timetable for the day will be posted here soon!

The Freedom of Association Bill, currently before the Education Select Committee, if passed will make membership of student unions voluntary.

“The news that a police investigation has begun into fraud allegations totaling $1 million from Whitireia Polytechnic students’ association funds is nothing new, but merely the latest example in a long history of fraud, financial waste and irresponsibility by student unions,” says Daniel Fielding, Young Nats President.

“The plain reality is compulsory membership removes accountability from student unions, whose incomes are forcibly guaranteed regardless of services provided or actions taken.

“The sad thing is students are the ones who are losing out. Students are forced to pay a levy regardless of whether they will use the services their fee provides and these levies add an estimated $10m to student debt every year.

“Our support is with the students of Whitireia who are demanding answers and have signed a petition calling for fresh elections.

“While voluntary membership won’t solve all the problems it will introduce a system of financial accountability for student unions.

“We believe this Government has a responsibility to give choice back to students,” says Daniel Fielding.

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“Today’s budget represents credible steps in the right direction to secure a brighter future for all young New Zealanders,” says Daniel Fielding, Young Nationals President.

“By making the tax system fairer, it provides the right incentives for growth and investment in research, education and business. This will ensure that our generation has the right tools to build a more prosperous country.”

“However, there is still more work to do. It’s imperative that we catch up with Australia. We want New Zealand to be the first choice for young Kiwi’s to work and bring up their families.”

The Young Nats also welcome the reforms in the tertiary education sector.

“We commend the Minister of Tertiary Education for his commitment to tertiary students. We’re pleased to see that spending on tertiary education will increase, providing tuition subsidies for students, and that student allowances will receive an off set to the increase in GST.”

“Rules requiring students to pass 50% of their courses for a loan are long overdue. Government investment in an individual’s education requires a return. However, we would urge the Minister to take bolder steps in reforming the fee maxima.”

“Overall this is a solid budget given the current economic climate and represents sound steps towards delivering young New Zealanders the brighter future they voted for.”

“At the age of 18 a person bears all of the responsibilities of adulthood, there is no justification for the state then restricting their rights beyond those afforded to other adults”, says Daniel Fielding, Young Nats President.

“This report suggests 18 and 19 years olds require a higher level of maturity to purchase a bottle of wine then they need to vote for a Member of Parliament.”

“What the report makes clear is that drinking to intoxication remains a dominant feature of our drinking culture and this behavior is not confined to a minority.”

“Youths are a convenient scape-goat, but criminalising the 140,000 18 and 19 year olds is a distraction from addressing the real problems of alcohol abuse and changing the drinking culture in New Zealand.”

“Solutions need to focus on problem drinkers, not punish all drinkers. A blanket measure of raising the drinking age will not change the drinking culture. This can only be achieved by introducing measures that places responsibility back onto the individual.”

“This is why the Young Nats welcome the Law Commission’s recommendation of increasing personal responsibility for unacceptable or harmful behavior induced by alcohol.”

“The lack of emphasis on individual responsibility in the current law means the intoxicated individual who engages in violent, disorderly, antisocial behaviour, or drinks to excess and ends up in hospital escapes the real cost and consequences of their behaviour.”

“If a person gets served whilst intoxicated the bar owner gets fined, if that person then goes out and smashes up a window they can get ACC and a day off work. The report states ACC estimates up to 22% of claims it receives have alcohol as contributing factor.”

“The other problem with the current law is the ineffective attempts to enforce ‘moderate drinking’. The Law Commission acknowledges there is room for considerable improvement in this area.”

“There were only 91 prosecutions for supply to a minor last year (resulting in 27 convictions), and only one for supply to an intoxicated person.”

Ends

Media Enquires: Daniel Fielding, 021 397 050

“Parliament has twice voted for the purchase age to be 18, and it is disappointing that the Law Commission is trying to turn the clock back again,” said group spokesperson Jenna Raeburn.

In 1999 Parliament voted to change the age of purchase from 20 to 18 by 59 votes to 55. The previous law had numerous exemptions to it, so in fact 18 year olds had been able to legally drink alcohol in licensed premises for many decades.

In 2006 a move to change it back to 18 was defeated 49 votes to 72. The members of Keep It 18 urge MPs to not spend time on trying to reverse history, but instead to focus on measures that target problem drinkers, rather than seek to punish all 140,000 18 and 19 year olds.

“While primarily focused on the purchase age, we also are concerned over the proposed nationwide setting of closing times, and mandating a one way policy for bars after 2 am. In our opinion, these also fail to target problem drinkers, and again will disadvantage the many responsible young people who enjoy a night out dancing and drinking with friends.”

Young Nationals President Daniel Fielding said “Let’s not have a return to nanny state policies, a blanket measure of raising the drinking age will not change the drinking culture. This can only be achieved by introducing measures that places responsibility back onto the individual“

Nicola Wood, Young Labour spokesperson for Keep It 18 said “Young Labour feel a higher drinking age would serve only to exacerbate the harms caused by alcohol. If we want to create a culture of responsible drinking, we need policy which better enables young people to make positive decisions about how they use alcohol, while at the same time acknowledging that this broad problem cannot be pinned on one sector of society. We will oppose any change to the law which discriminates unfairly against young people “

Zachary Dorner, Young Greens spokesperson said “Raising the drinking age has more to do with pointing the finger at young people than solving the real issues. What we need to do is to take a look at ourselves and start treating alcohol as the harmful drug that it is”

ACT on Campus President Peter McCaffrey said “Politicians have no right to tell New Zealanders what they can consume and when they can consume it. The government’s role is to protect you from others not from yourself. The government should focus on targeting people who are causing harm to others rather than act as a nanny-state, telling everyone how much fun they can have “

Jenna Raeburn continued “All our political parties have 18 and 19 year old members who are allowed to vote, allowed to marry, allowed to have sex, and trusted enough to go out and do volunteer work for their parties. Saying that these same members can not be trusted to purchase a bottle of wine from a supermarket or a pint of beer at a bar is hypocritical and insulting, and we urge all MPs in Parliament to reject an age change.”

“We accept the problems caused by alcohol abuse in our society, and are happy to work with MPs in identifying which proposals put forward by the Law Commission are worth supporting. But increasing the purchase age is not one of them. Criminalising 140,000 18 and 19 year olds is the wrong answer,” concluded Miss Raeburn.

ENDS