1 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: Kilda. I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, 2 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: a daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald every 3 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: few weeks. It seems that we're reporting on a recidivist 4 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: drink driver who is once again going through the court 5 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: system due to their behavior. And there are still thousands 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: going through the justice system every year. In fact, figures 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: show that over fifteen thousand people were convicted last year 8 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: over driving under the influence. Now, a new survey has 9 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: shown consistent support from New Zealanders to tackle drink driving, 10 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 1: conducted by the New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council. More kiwis 11 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: are keen to see police issue on the spot finds 12 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: for minor alcohol related offenses, while there remains high support 13 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:59,319 Speaker 1: for confiscating cars and use of alcohol interlocks. With this 14 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: high support bought in place, what can be done to 15 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: get drunk drivers off our roads? Today on the front 16 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: Page we're discussing how we can curb drink driving with 17 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: Virginia Nichols, Executive director of the New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council. Virginia, 18 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: what was the motivation for this survey starting six years ago? 19 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: Well, I think the industry felt they needed to understand 20 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 2: and get consumer feedback on their different feelings, if you like, 21 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: around all sorts of different issues, and of course the 22 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 2: industry has been listening to many of these through the 23 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 2: years as well. 24 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 1: So your survey shows that there's quite high support for 25 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: more to be done on drink driving. Seventy nine percent 26 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: support confiscating cars for repeat drink drivers, fifty nine percent 27 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: want heavier fines for drunken disorderly behavior, and fifty four 28 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: percent want to use alcohol interlocks in cars to reduce 29 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: drink driving. Are you encouraged by the high I support 30 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: for these measures? 31 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 2: Oh, absolutely encouraged, and we support it as well. I 32 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 2: mean we're very keen to actually strengthen think we think 33 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 2: this very strong supporter there from consumers. We support it, 34 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: and we think targeted interventions are the way to go. 35 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: How easy would it be for some of these things 36 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: to be implemented? Are those alcohol interlocks in cars? Are 37 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: those the things that you blow into before the motor starts. 38 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely they are, and you can see there from 39 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 2: the data. Alcohol interlock courts mandated orders have increased from 40 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: two hundred and sixty two. 41 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 3: It's not a lot, is it? Back? 42 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 2: In twenty fifteen up to nearly four thousand and twenty 43 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 2: and twenty four and so really what we can do 44 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 2: there is I mean we could actually all wear meaning 45 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 2: the courts could actually increase the number of alcohol interlock 46 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 2: orders that they actually put onto people that are doing 47 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 2: drinking and driving. 48 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,359 Speaker 1: And I'm sure they'd be a cost involved in creating 49 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: new laws and things like that, but surely that'd be 50 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 1: balanced out by the savings on the court time and 51 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: the stays in hospitals and all that stuff. 52 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 3: Hey, it's a really good idea. 53 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,679 Speaker 2: I mean, these people are hazardous drinkers, They've got significant 54 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 2: drinking issues. This is something we can do, we can 55 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 2: strengthen because it is actually happening at the moment, but 56 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: it needs to happen more. We think that we could 57 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:18,399 Speaker 2: be doing more with interlocks. 58 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: From the survey as well, fifty five percent of respondents 59 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: support police issuing spot fines for minor alcohol related offenses. 60 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: In New South Wales, a low level drink driving offense 61 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: starts off with a fine of about six hundred dollars 62 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: and three months loss of license, whereas here a similar 63 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: offense would be a two hundred dollar fine and a 64 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: deduction of fifty demerit points. Do you reckon we're a 65 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: bit too lenient when it comes to these on the 66 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: spot fines? 67 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 2: Look, I don't The survey doesn't delve any deeper into 68 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 2: that there, and there is quite a lot of fines 69 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 2: and things I know through our court system. I would 70 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 2: need to investigate that a little bit further. But I 71 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 2: certainly think this actually supports and actually supports heavier fines, 72 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 2: and the industry is not against that at all. 73 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: For that to be reviewed, The Herald often publishes stories 74 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: showing that someone is on their umpteenth conviction, they've been 75 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: through all of this before, and they got home detention 76 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: or fines or some brief spell in jail, but it 77 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: doesn't seem to stick. Are we too lenient when it 78 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 1: comes to criminal proceedings against drunk drivers? Do you think? 79 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: I don't think we need to throw everyone who is 80 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: over the limited in jail. But what do we need 81 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: to do to hold more people to account? 82 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 2: Well, I think what you're referring to there is hazardous drinkers, 83 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 2: and I think we've actually got to realize as well 84 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 2: that we are drinking less and we're drinking better. With 85 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 2: a move to moderation as part of a balanced lifestyle. 86 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 2: And the annual New Zealand Health Survey provides information on 87 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 2: our health and wellbeing. It shows that round about eighty 88 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 2: three percent or five out of six of US drink 89 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 2: beer one and spirits responsibly. So it's an increase of 90 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: four point seven percentage points over the last four years. 91 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 2: And what you're just referring to there is hazardous drinking 92 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 2: or harmful alcohol consumption among adults over the past four 93 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: years has declined to sixteen point six percent. Now it's 94 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 2: still too high and we still want that to be 95 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 2: reduced a little bit better. However, we still also need 96 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: to realize this tats. New Zealand alcohol consumption per capita 97 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 2: is also declined by twenty eight percent, and we drink 98 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 2: below the OECD average, less than the US, UK, Australia, Germany, 99 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 2: France and Ireland. However, hazardous drinkers, and I think the 100 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 2: surveys that it tells us as well that we really 101 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: support consumers, really support heavier fines for if a drunk 102 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 2: and disorderly behavior. 103 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 3: We want more alcohol interlocks. 104 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: And I think what's important here too is alcohol education 105 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: programs as well, so targeted support programs for harmful drinkers. 106 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 2: I think will probably do more than heavier fines. 107 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: George's Jovi is too wasted. 108 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 2: I should see something, but I could look dumb in 109 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 2: front of Monique. 110 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: Monique ses, you're dumb. But if he crashes, if the 111 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: love of his family puzzle tip, and if he does, 112 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: goose children avort me forever. 113 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 2: Chip. 114 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: You know I can't grab your gush chips. 115 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 3: What are you doing? 116 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: I've been internalizing a really complicated situation in my head. 117 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: What do you want about? I don't think you should drive, na, No, 118 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: you're two drunk free just crazy. As a country, we 119 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: have these kind of big drunk driving campaigns every year. 120 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: Do you think that those are having an impact? Things 121 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: like those that ghost chips one for example, where part 122 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: of our vernacular for a while was ghost chips. But 123 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 1: it doesn't feel like they have the same sticking power anymore. 124 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 3: Well. 125 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 2: I think we've got to realize though, that we are 126 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 2: as I say, we're drinking differently. We know we're doing that, 127 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 2: and we also need to look at say, since twenty fourteen, 128 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 2: the total number of New Zealand is convicted of driving 129 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 2: under the influence, and this is both alcohol and or drugs. 130 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 2: It has declined by twenty seven to send and so good. 131 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 2: These are good indicators of what's going. 132 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 3: On out there. 133 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 2: However, we still need to do more, and I'm sure 134 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: it's a balanced approach. It's a balanced approach with education, 135 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 2: it's very important that we have a look at a 136 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 2: whole lot of other areas as well. And part of 137 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 2: that I think is going to be interlocks and cars, 138 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 2: and I think alcohol, more alcohol education in schools as well. 139 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and those ads as well as part of that education, 140 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: do they need to be a bit more brutal? I 141 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: mean some of the ads that played in South Australia 142 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: when I was younger were quite scarring. I still think 143 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: about them. 144 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 2: I think there is a balanced approach here and I'm 145 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 2: sure ACC and people like that that are doing those 146 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: advertisements are actually I'm sure they're doing an awful lot 147 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 2: of research around them as well to find what works, 148 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 2: what doesn't work. They'd be doing them for quite a 149 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 2: long time, so I think, again, this is a many 150 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 2: pronged approach. How do we reduce hazardous drinkers, how do 151 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: we actually provide more education, and how do we actually 152 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 2: provide more targeted programs. Are there sufficient targeted programs for 153 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 2: these people that are hazardous drinkers? 154 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 3: It's a health issue really, to be fair. 155 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: I saw the analysis done by STUFF last year showed 156 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: that the number of discharges without convictions is skyrocketed in 157 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: recent years. It was one hundred and seventeen and twenty fourteen, 158 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: then jumped in twenty twenty one to four hundred and three. 159 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: Then in twenty twenty three there were one thousand and 160 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: twenty eight discharges without conviction. Do you have any inkling 161 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: as to why this is happening and are you concerned 162 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 1: about this, because of course from your survey, a lot 163 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: of people would be unsettled by that number. 164 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 2: God, I'm really surprised with those numbers. That is certainly 165 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 2: higher than what I would have expected in the past, 166 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 2: been very difficult to get a discharge the conviction for 167 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 2: drink driving. So I don't actually know what's going on there, 168 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 2: but those are concerning numbers. 169 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: Can you tell us a little bit more about the 170 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: Tomorrow Project and what impact that's having on drink driving? 171 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's really really important. 172 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 2: I mean, since twenty nineteen, the Tomorrow Project, it's a 173 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 2: social change charity governed by Spirits New Zealand, New Zealand 174 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 2: Wine Grows and the Brewers Association. They funded the Life 175 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 2: Education Trust to deliver SMASH. It's a theater and education 176 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 2: program for high school students that provides practical information advice 177 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 2: to support better decision making. So I think really most 178 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 2: of us agree that targeted education and support programs they 179 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 2: create a much better understanding of responsible drinking. That's a 180 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 2: fact borne out by the fact that seventy percent of 181 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: New Zealanders surveyed agreed that such program will reduce alcohol 182 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 2: related harm. So all the research tells us is that 183 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 2: earlier you start talking to teenagers about drinking, the less 184 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 2: likely it is they'll become hazardous drinkers or start. 185 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 3: Drinking at all. 186 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 2: Which is why education for youth is really important. And 187 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 2: since it actually started in twenty nineteen, to the end 188 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty four school year, the SMASH program has 189 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 2: been delivered to more than one hundred and eight thousand 190 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 2: students across New Zealand. This means it engages with about 191 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,079 Speaker 2: a third of year nine students in Aiti era, building 192 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 2: on substance education that starts in primary and intermediate schools. 193 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 2: So what it does is we've got actors and things 194 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 2: on the stage, and it provides young people with practical 195 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 2: information on how to say no to alcohol or not 196 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 2: drinking at all, what a standard drink is, in counting drinks, 197 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 2: talks about safe drinking, binge drinking, peer pressure, better decision making, 198 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 2: and availability of zero and low alcohol drinks as well, 199 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 2: and independent researchers show that the programs supporting positive change 200 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:43,599 Speaker 2: in youth drinking culture. So I think it's very important 201 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 2: to get to our young people very early. 202 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 4: How can we be upset with a player that's trying 203 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 4: to teach kids how to drink responsibly. Well, first and foremost, 204 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 4: they don't define what drinking responsibily is. They focus on 205 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 4: the extreme end of drinking, the getting small, nash, binge drinking, harmful, 206 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 4: alcohol use, misuse. These are the terms that we see 207 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 4: throughout the teacher resources for this program. But young people 208 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 4: are the most vulnerable to alcoholated harm, but from low 209 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 4: levels of alcohol consumption, So you'll be. 210 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: Students engaged in this program. 211 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 4: I think it only matters if you're you know, you're blind, 212 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 4: drunk on the floor, if you're getting into and fight. 213 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 4: But no, those harms begin at much lower levels of 214 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 4: alcohol consumption. And that's why our Ministry of Health guidelines 215 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 4: is not to drink if you're fifteen years under. 216 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: Or delay as long as you can. When it comes 217 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: to hazardous drinking. I know that the alcohol industry, whether 218 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: it be spirits, beer, wine, et cetera. I mean, you 219 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: don't sit around a table and think, right, this is 220 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: going to cause drink driving deaths or hazardous drinking. I 221 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: mean that's not something that the industry wants, right, And 222 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 1: that's quite clear with all the absoluty work that the 223 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: industry does. How much money does the industry I mean 224 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: you might not know this, but how much money does 225 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: it put behind those educational programs and such. 226 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 2: That's done connectedly with spirits, wine and beer? And I 227 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 2: actually don't know that the money. I know it's a 228 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 2: significant amount of money. 229 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: Would the industry be open to maybe splashing out some 230 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: cash on those initiatives like say the thing that you 231 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: blow on when to get your car started and stuff. 232 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 2: Well, well, to give you an idea on that, the industry, 233 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,959 Speaker 2: or actually us as consumers, we all pay something called 234 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 2: exercise texts that's increased more than twenty percent in the 235 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 2: last four or so years and consumers paid one point 236 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:29,079 Speaker 2: two three billion to government in the twenty twenty four 237 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 2: financial year, so the industry is also paying quite a lot. 238 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 2: But there is also from that there. At the moment, 239 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: people can actually I guess, put a proposal forward to 240 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,719 Speaker 2: Health New Zealand to actually get more funding for the 241 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 2: likes of the Smashed programs, which would be a really 242 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 2: good thing. 243 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: And like you mentioned earlier as well, there are some 244 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: positive signs that alcohol related deaths are decreasing. Right, What 245 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,439 Speaker 1: are some of those bright spots from the survey? 246 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 3: Oh well, I think I think the other area really well. 247 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 2: We've seen in the recent New Zeale and Road Safety 248 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 2: Week showed the number of alcohol related road desks is 249 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 2: reduced by forty percent than last year. That's a great thing. 250 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 2: We know, as we mentioned before that the news number 251 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 2: of New Zealand is convicted of driving under the influences 252 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:14,679 Speaker 2: declined by twenty seven. 253 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 3: Percent, so that's a good thing as well. 254 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 2: So I think all the indicators are there that we're 255 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 2: in the right We've got the right trending going on. 256 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 2: We're drinking in different ways, our number of hazardous drinkings 257 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 2: are declining. But as I say, we've still got more 258 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 2: work to do. 259 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: If you could get the air of the Justice Minister, 260 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 1: Paul Goldsmith or somebody else in government, what's the one 261 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: thing you'd like them to implement tomorrow to curb this hazard? 262 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: Iss strong driving? 263 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 2: Definitely more targeted education in schools, both that plus also 264 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 2: in workplaces as well. We would like to see, as 265 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 2: I say, we cover at the moment about you know, 266 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 2: a third of all high schools in New Zealand. We 267 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 2: would like to see every high school receiving this program. 268 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:57,559 Speaker 2: As I say, independent research has showed it's very successful 269 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 2: and we need to get to young people early. But 270 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 2: equally as well, it's also quite important that we do 271 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 2: more in workplaces as well, and there's actually a lot 272 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 2: of free. 273 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:08,839 Speaker 3: Programs at workplaces. 274 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 2: A lot of it's about education and understanding about drinking 275 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 2: and how much. 276 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 3: Is too much? 277 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 2: You know, what is the standard drink? If we've got 278 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,199 Speaker 2: an issue, where can we go to get how all 279 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 2: those practical things that are really really important. So I 280 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 2: think it's important that we get the young people at 281 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 2: sort of twelve and thirteen years, but we equally go 282 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 2: into workplaces as well, and the online there's wonderful programs online. 283 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 2: Alcohol and Me is one of them where you can 284 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 2: go on and do a whole lot of you can 285 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 2: ask if you like, how much you know, any questions 286 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 2: you want to do, and as I say, find out 287 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 2: a lot more about what responsible drinking is all about. 288 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us, Virginia. 289 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 3: Okay, thanks Chelsea. 290 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 1: That's it for this episode of the Front Page. You 291 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 1: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 292 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 1: at enzadherld dot co dot nz. The Front Page is 293 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: produced by Ethan Sills and Richard Martin, who is also 294 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: our sound engineer. I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe to the Front 295 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and 296 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,359 Speaker 1: tune in tomorrow for another look behind the headlines.