Alcohol-fuelled violence in the Octagon and its link to Parliament will be discussed at this month's Howard League dinner in Dunedin, to be headlined by former prime minister and leading legislator Sir Geoffrey Palmer.
The Otago branch of the Howard League has been raising awareness of appropriate alternatives to prison sentences since its establishment two and a-half years ago.
The public dinner on October 31 will help the continuation of the debate on crime, punishment and rehabilitation.
Sir Geoffrey's presentation will focus on the struggle to regulate alcohol in New Zealand.
He was chairman of the New Zealand Law Commission from 2005 to 2010, during which time it made recommendations to change liquor-licensing laws.
Dunedin lawyer Anne Stevens, of the Howard League, said alcohol was a catalyst for crime and Sir Geoffrey could provide an insight into why the Government ignored recommendations for alcohol reform which had the potential to curb violence and other offending.
She said there were many people working in criminal law and associated professions who were passionate about the need to address serious societal problems resulting from alcohol abuse.
The huge number of young people injured in Dunedin's Octagon was an example of the direct harm alcohol caused, she said.
''New Zealand has a culture of irresponsible drinking and alcohol is integral to most offending because people lose their judgement when drunk. Defence lawyers like me should have T-shirts which say `sponsored by the liquor industry'.''
Mrs Stevens said it was a coup to have Sir Geoffrey speak at the dinner and to be part of a preliminary panel discussion earlier in the day at the University of Otago.
It will involve Sir Geoffrey debating the topic of severing the link between alcohol and prison. Other panel members will be Prof Jennie Connor, Major Campbell Roberts and Jarrod Gilbert.
Anyone was welcome to attend the hour-long discussion starting at midday in the Burns 2 lecture theatre, Mrs Stevens said.
A dinner will be held afterwards at the Savoy.
During the evening two ink drawings by an Otago Corrections Facility prisoner will be auctioned and Dunedin group Valley Bluegrass will perform.
Anyone interested in either event can contact Mrs Stevens by emailing annestevens@xtra.co.nz.
