There is a national alcohol crisis. However, this crisis is under-recognized because we have become numbed by the unrelenting presence of alcohol-related problems. The national alcohol crisis has become our way of life. At least 25% of New Zealand drinkers are heavy drinkers (Wells et al 2006) A third of all police apprehensions involve alcohol (Stevenson 2009) Half of serious violent crimes are related to alcohol (Stevenson 2009) 60 different medical conditions are caused by heavy drinking (O’Hagan et al 1993) Up to 75% of a...

Our environment is s a strong determinant of our health. If 15 people per week were dying from contaminated water supplies, our public health system would be highly engaged in identifying and eliminating the cause of it. Currently 15 people are dying per week from alcohol related causes- 5 of those deaths being from cancer. Our public health officials are well aware of this, and are making every effort to persuade our government to regulate the commercial environment that encourages low prices, ubiquitous advertising and easy availability- a...

Myth: “Alcohol reform will “punish” responsible drinkers” Fact: Alcohol harm costs this country billions each year and this burden falls on all of us, drinkers and non-drinkers alike through, for example, the taxes we pay, overcrowding of health services, and the social harms of heavy drinking. The scientific evidence is clear that an integrated solution to the alcohol crisis, including price increases, a ban on advertising, and removing alcohol from supermarkets, will produce significant benefits for everyone. These benefits, ...

Many of the people at the front line of alcohol harm are public servants. One could argue that public servants have a responsibility to inform MPs about the situation with alcohol harm. State Service Commission (SCC) guidelines make it clear that in almost all instances, individuals can be politically active, including on issues related to their public service vocation. To be doubly sure, we also contacted the PSA (Public Service Association) who confirmed this. Only public servants directly working on the policy area in question need sta...

The current alcohol laws are not designed to substantially reduce harm from alcohol. Read the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2012/0120/latest/DLM3339333.html Our organisation campaigned hard prior to this legislation being passed in Parliament. The Law Commission had included all of the policies that make up the 5+ solution in its comprehensive recommendations to the government. However, the newly elected government of the time cherry-picked a few of these recommendations, leaving o...

What you can do 1. Join up to be part of Alcohol Action and get our email updates. 2. Promote discussion of the 5+ Solution with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. 3. Write a "letter to the editor" of your local newspaper. 4. Write to and lobby your MP. 5. Attend the annual Alcohol Action NZ conference at Te Papa, Wellington. 6. Make a donation to support Alcohol Action NZ.   ...