The chairwoman of Queenstown's alcohol action lobby has criticised the Government for "smoothing over" recommendations on alcohol law reform and is urging the community to make submissions on the Alcohol Reform Bill at a public forum on October 20.
"It was hoped that the Government would pick up and go forward with all the recommendations. Unfortunately, this is not the case and [the] Government have left out the most important recommendations, which would have the greatest impact on New Zealand's binge drinking culture," Queenstown United in Violence and Alcohol Reduction group chairwoman Ann Fowler said.
Prime Minister John Key's "outright dismissal" of a 10% rise in liquor prices, the failure to reduce easy access to alcohol, the lack of regulation around marketing campaigns designed to increase alcohol sales and the failure to reduce drink-driving blood-alcohol levels were "key" oversights, she said.
Transport minister Steven Joyce had made an "appalling decision" not to lower the drink-driving limit for those over 20 from 0.08 to 0.05 (80mg to 50mg).
Wednesday's meeting would garner "a real mix of opinions", she said.
"We're also encouraging people to make submissions. It's all very well to have your say, but it's got to reach the ears of politicians."
The meeting follows one held on September 27 where Senior Sergeant John Fookes, of Queenstown, former Queenstown Mayor Clive Geddes and licensee representative Russell Gray, of Good Bars, spoke.
Mrs Fowler said the follow-up meeting would be a chance for people to discuss issues not canvassed in the previous forum and to talk in more depth about strategies and contents of submissions.
One meeting would not be enough to go over the range of "complex" issues and attendees were asked to commit to more than one evening.
The Bill was likely to go before Parliament by early November and Mrs Fowler said it was up to communities to let MPs know what changes were needed.
"Please make an effort to come. It has been nearly a quarter of a century since the last liquor review. Goodness knows how long it will be to the next one," she said.
The public meeting, starting at 7pm on October 20 at the Salvation Army rooms, Camp St, Queenstown, will be facilitated by Peter Gibson.
