Thursday 29th July 2010
Plans to fast-track liquor licences for the Rugby World Cup are "risky and unwise" because of New zealand's binge drinking culture, and show a "callous disregard" for public health and safety in favour of the alcohol industry, the Government was told yesterday.
The Government administration select committee yesterday heard submissions on the Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill which would make it easier to grant urgent approvals for temporary activities and facilities during the tournament.
The chief executive of the Alcohol Advisory Council (Alac), Gerard Vaughn, said the bill's provisions on liquor licensing paid scant regard to controlling the sale of alcohol and reducing harm from drinking.
Mr Vaughn said that unlike the Sale of Liquor Act, the section of the bill dealing with liquor licensing did not expressly control liquor sales or contribute to the reduction of harm.
While the bill would allow temporary licences subject to terms and conditions that "ensure that public health and safety are protected as far as is reasonably practicable" during the event, that was a weaker protection than under the act.
For the full story go to:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10661994