Divergent views on changes to New Zealand's liquor laws emerged among councillors at a Waitaki District Council meeting this week - probably just as divergent as those of the community they represent.
Councillors on the strategy committee were trying to come to grips with a suggested submission, prepared by Waitaki safer community officer Alison Banks, on the Law Commission's alcohol review.
They could not wholly agree on the views to be taken, and have handed the task to Crs Peter Twiss, Peter Garvan and Struan Munro to come up with a submission that reflects all their views.
The debate prompted a rebuke from council chief executive Michael Ross: "For goodness sake, get on with the job."
He said the idea of the proposed submission was to represent the views of "10 elected people" (councillors), who also represented the community's views.
"You are resiling from your duty as councillors if you cannot reach a consensus on what your views should be," he said.
Councillors had varying views on what, if any changes, should be made to liquor laws.
Some were quite passionate - Cr Garvan arguing against making criminals out of people who breached liquor laws.
Cr Rod Bidois questioned whether councillors could prepare a submission that would represent all the views of the community.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton said the community had to accept there was a problem with alcohol, particularly among young people, and restrictions were needed.
Issues covered in the council's proposed submission included:
• Supporting a split-age for buying alcohol - 18 years at on-licences (restaurants, cafes, bars) and 20 years at off-licences.
• Making it an offence for adults to supply young people with alcohol, other than to the adult's child or legal ward.
• Making it a legal requirement for a parent or legal guardian who supplies liquor to their child to supervise its consumption;Requiring licensed premises to offer standard measures of liquor.
• Supporting a "permanent licence" for premises where there were no issues with its performance.
• The reduction of tax on low alcohol products.
