Raising community awareness and motivating people to regain empowerment through alcohol reform will be the focus of a public forum in Queenstown this month.
Queenstown United in Violence and Alcohol Harm Reduction chairwoman Ann Fowler said the group organised the event to give the community an opportunity to take a closer look at the Government's reform proposals and understand the effect they could have.
While not all 126 proposals will be discussed, the ones which affect parents and the powers of the wider community will receive particular attention.
In the past, the community really never had a say on whether a licensed premises was allowed to be established, she said.
"Every day we are reading about the harms from alcohol, and I think people are feeling quite powerless, when, in actual fact, some of this legislation will give power back to the communities."
Senior Sergeant John Fookes, of Queenstown, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes, and Russell Gray, of Good Bars would address the forum and be on hand to answer questions.
Mayoral and council candidates had also been invited, as well as local schools.
The Alcohol Reform Bill is due to go before Parliament next month, after which it will go to a select committee for consideration, at which point submissions could be made.
The forum will be held at the Queenstown Memorial Hall on September 27, from 7.30pm to 9pm. A light supper will be provided.
LIQUOR FORUM FOR PARENTS
Some of the key liquor-reform changes the Government is looking at are. -
• Making it an offence for others to provide alcohol to a person aged under 18 without a parent or guardian's consent.
• When permission is given or when a parent or guardian provides alcohol to a minor, the parent or guardian will be required to ensure supply is done responsibly.
• The Justice Minister, in consultation with the Health Minister, will be able to ban alcohol products that are particularly appealing to minors or bad for health.
• A split purchase age: 18 years for on-licences and 20 for off-licences. This will be subject to a conscience vote in Parliament, rather than a party vote.
• When permission is given - or when a parent or guardian provides alcohol to a minor - the parent or guardian will be required to ensure supply is done responsibly.
• National default maximum hours of 7am-11pm for off-licences and 8am-4am for on-licences, club licences and special licences.
