Leader of the New Zealand Progressive Party and former Associate Minister of Health Jim Anderton is calling for more controls on alcohol. In a forum dedicated to the topic, the party chief stated that the economic costs to New Zealand total between two to three billion dollars a year when health costs, loss of work and costs to the justice system are all tallied.

Moreover, a recent national survey showed that especially young people sufr harm from the substance, with one in seven people aged 16-17 years having injured themselves in the past year due to their drinking. The Progressive Party is thus calling for measures that decrease the availability of alcohol such as raising the minimum drinking age, reducing sale outlets and prohibiting some forms of advertising.

Honorable Mr. Anderton and Progressive Party members, we applaud your healthful initiatives. May all New Zealanders and indeed citizens worldwide enjoy the clear-minded liberty of alcohol-free living.

Reference
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0910/S00105.htm, http://www.progressive.org.nz/latestnews/files/6578b931cd39821fc3cb4a9a7fb0348c-35.html