1 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: Kyoda. 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. There are 4 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: continued calls to tighten alcohol laws in New Zealand. The 5 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 2: growing trend of online deliveries has made advocates worried, with 6 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 2: a study finding a large portion of alcohol deliveries bypassed 7 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 2: ID checks. Meanwhile, Auckland's new alcohol policy starting December ninth, 8 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 2: will reduce sales hours and titan regulations on new liquor licenses, 9 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 2: and across the Ditch, New South Wales is looking to 10 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 2: introduce new rules to regulate pre mixed alcoholic beverages, especially 11 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 2: those with candy like flavors and colorful packaging. So should 12 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: there be more restrictions around the sale and advertising of alcohol. 13 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: In New Zealand? 14 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 2: And Today on the Front Page we speak to the 15 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 2: New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council Executive director of Virginia Nichols 16 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 2: to talk us through the industry's reaction to the tightening 17 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 2: of laws around their products. But first we speak to 18 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 2: Alcohol Health Watch executive director Andrew Galloway. 19 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: On where we should scale up restrictions. 20 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:29,839 Speaker 2: First, First off, Andrew, do you think laws around alcohol 21 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 2: are good enough in New Zealand. 22 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 3: That's a really big question, and in short, my answer 23 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 3: would have to be known. I think we can look 24 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 3: back at previous reviews that have recommended phasing out of 25 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 3: alcohol sponsorship, marketing and advertising in twenty ten by the 26 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 3: Law Commission. That was further picked up by others. There 27 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 3: was a Ministerial forum in twenty fourteen that recommended the 28 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 3: same and again in the Government Inquiry into Mental Health 29 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 3: and Addictions in twenty eighteen twenty nineteen, which recommended that 30 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 3: they first two reviews should be picked up. So I 31 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 3: think around that issue marketing, sponsorship and advertising, no, and 32 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 3: more widely, we've just done a research project into remote 33 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 3: and rapid delivery of alcohol, and again you'd have to 34 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 3: say that our research highlights the fact that we probably 35 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 3: don't have good enough regulation for that aspect. 36 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 2: Tell me about that research undertaken by Alcohol Health Watch 37 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 2: into the delivery of alcohol. 38 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: What did you find. 39 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, I mean there was a bit 40 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 3: of interest and it popped up in the media twenty 41 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 3: eighteen twenty twenty, but it really remote and rapid delivery 42 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 3: grew rapidly when we had COVID and for obvious reasons, 43 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 3: and rapid or remote delivery became quite popular for a 44 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 3: range of commodities, but alcohol was one and it grew 45 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 3: the amount of people using that facility grew, So we 46 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 3: had a concern at Alcohol Health Watch. One of my 47 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 3: team members got wine delivered and it was just left 48 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 3: on a doorstep, and really, her thought, is an alcohol 49 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 3: policy researcher, was, I wonder how I spread that is. 50 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 3: So we did a test and we tested sixteen companies, 51 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 3: from big supermarkets to rapid delivery tech based companies to 52 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 3: just general retailers, and the results are really alarming. Seventy 53 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 3: three percent of alcohol orders did not request age verification 54 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 3: on delivery. All you have to do in most cases 55 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 3: is tick two boxes and that satisfies the law that 56 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 3: you've checked age. But as we know, if you're a 57 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 3: young person under eighteen, you're probably not going to check 58 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 3: the box if you want alcohol to say that you're 59 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 3: under eighteen. So it's not a full brief system by 60 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 3: any stretch. Forty nine percent of alcohol orders were left 61 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,279 Speaker 3: unattended to contact us at the door. And while contactless 62 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 3: deliveries might have been okay during COVID, for obvious reasons. 63 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 3: We don't think alcohol, being New Zealand's most harmful drugs, 64 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 3: should be left at the door of people's homes. We've 65 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 3: got research from New Zealand which shows remote delivery extends 66 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 3: a drinking occasion and that really stands to common sense. 67 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 3: If you're if you're polished off a few and you 68 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 3: can't drive to the bottle store, it would give you 69 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 3: the opportunity to get more. And their research backs that 70 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 3: are all one hundred percent of companies have wonderful policies 71 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 3: that say this is what we're going to do. Eighty 72 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 3: seven point five percent of the time they broke their 73 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 3: own restricted items policy. So it really did show when 74 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 3: you have a regulatory system with no checks and balances, 75 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 3: there is the potential for harm. And that's what we're 76 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 3: concerned about. We're not saying it's not a service that 77 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 3: shouldn't be available. I think we need to look across 78 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 3: the ditch in Australia where you might have to scan 79 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 3: your ID and have it verified before it's delivered. You 80 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 3: could have a period of time where there's a standdown 81 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 3: so that we're not getting that extension of a drinking 82 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 3: occasion leading to harm. So there's some simple things we 83 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,559 Speaker 3: can do. We're one of the few countries I think 84 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 3: there were seventy one out of seventy three countries we 85 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 3: looked at in the study that had rules around us, 86 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 3: and we're certainly an outlier in alterio on New Zealand. 87 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 3: So that is another reason why we think it's time 88 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 3: to look at the laws around alcohol. 89 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: We'll speaking of Australia, what do you make of the 90 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 2: idea of restricting pre mixed alcoholic drinks? In New South 91 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 2: Wales they're looking at new guidelines that will regulate alcoholic 92 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,919 Speaker 2: versions of soft drinks, for example, and ready to drink beverages, specifically, 93 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: wanting to crack down on confectionery flavored drinks or colorful designs. 94 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: Is that something that we should look at here. 95 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 3: I think we should have the ability and I looked 96 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 3: jealously at Australia and some of their ability to make 97 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 3: regulations in state governments and this is New South Wales. 98 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 3: The publicity on this has been really interesting. I don't 99 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 3: think it struck a chord in the right way, but 100 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,679 Speaker 3: many people going, oh, now we've got the Health Agency 101 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 3: kind of tasting products to make sure they're okay. For us, 102 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 3: but again in Australia, alcohol very similar to New Zealand 103 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 3: is a big problem. What they found is they've had 104 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 3: a product called hard Solo, which replicates a soft drink. 105 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 3: We're not saying that these products can't exist, but it 106 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 3: certainly had an appeal to minus and they considered the 107 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 3: formal regulatory actions and to prohibit the class of liquor products. 108 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 3: And you know in New South Wales, the liquor and 109 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 3: gaming have said there's a comment thary that highly popular 110 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 3: softwarets among young people and the vulnerability of miners of 111 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 3: alcohol related injuries and diseases really does give them cause 112 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 3: to think about it. We probably do need in New 113 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 3: Zealand some kind of check on a product before it 114 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 3: goes to market. So unfortunately we end up being a 115 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 3: bit of a dumping ground, given how close we are 116 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 3: to Australia, and given many of those companies of Global 117 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 3: Bilson's dumped a whole lot of product that were basically 118 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 3: ruled not appropriate in Australia, and those are great bubblegum 119 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 3: and rainbow Sherbert flavored kind of vodka premixes that came 120 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 3: on the shelf here and it got picked up by 121 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 3: a community agency called Communities Against Alcohol. They made a 122 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 3: complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority. The Advertising Standards Authority 123 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 3: chair noted that great Bubblegum and Rainbow Sherbert and the 124 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 3: Facebook advertisements that happened about them, but there's no check 125 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 3: on the way and before they put on the shelf, 126 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 3: you know, they make reasonable decisions, but the system itself 127 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 3: relies on complaints, so I've no one actually sees it 128 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 3: that does something about it. These products can be on 129 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 3: the market for some time. 130 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 4: So we did a very simple study. What we did 131 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 4: is that we record one hundred and twenty five university students. 132 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 4: We just asked them to scroll their goal on their 133 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 4: favorite social medias for thirty minutes and text screenshots for 134 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 4: whatever Alco advertisement they've seen and then send. 135 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 3: It back to us. 136 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 4: So the result is very shotkick because the majority of 137 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 4: these young people they see at least one advertisement in 138 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 4: the thirty minutes period and on actually on average they 139 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 4: see one advertisement every two three minutes. This is very 140 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 4: Shotkicks result. 141 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 2: Auckland Council has adopted its local alcohol policy for the city, 142 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 2: coming into effect on December nine. It'll mean bottle shops 143 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 2: and supermarkets across the region won't be able to sell 144 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 2: alcohol after nine pm. At the moment you can buy 145 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 2: it up to eleven pm. What difference do you think 146 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 2: those couple of hours will make. 147 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 3: The evidence tells us that the more available alcohol is, 148 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 3: the more harm that's caused. And when we had so 149 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 3: I'm old enough to remember, and I worked in Oakland 150 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 3: Council when we had twenty four our licensing and that 151 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 3: was a disaster, really having people out drinking when people 152 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 3: are coming to work or trying to go to work, 153 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 3: or people are opening businesses and people are still out 154 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 3: enjoying the late night economy that has kept going into 155 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 3: the next day was not a good mix of uses 156 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 3: of a CBD. So I'm pleased we don't have twenty 157 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 3: four our licensing. But when that changed, and that changed 158 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 3: as a result of the sale and supply of alcoholic 159 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 3: twenty twelve, which in post national maximum house, there was 160 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 3: a significant impact on alcohol harm. So even just that 161 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 3: reduction from twenty four hours to four am, which is 162 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 3: still pretty late for un licenses, that saw a significant 163 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 3: reduction in crime and a significant reduction in alcohol related presentations. 164 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 3: That very same three of research tells us that we 165 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 3: will see a reduction in things like crime alcohol related 166 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 3: presentations to emergency departments. From the modest change from eleven 167 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 3: pm to nine pm for retail sale in Auckland. One 168 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 3: thing we are concerned about is the remote delivery may 169 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 3: office gate or limit some of those benefits. The imputus 170 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 3: for government to do something around remote sales is probably 171 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 3: also compounded by the fact that there might be a 172 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 3: loophole well. 173 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 2: The annual Ministry of Health, a New Zealand Health survey 174 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 2: released last month showed hazardous drinking or harmful alcohol consumption 175 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 2: among adults has actually declined by four point seven percentage 176 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 2: points in the past four years to sixteen point six percent. 177 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 2: Do you find that there is a decrease in hazardus 178 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:46,719 Speaker 2: drinking among adults? 179 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 3: I agree, I mean, I think those statistics are great 180 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 3: and it's not to say we don't have a problem anymore, 181 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 3: but it's certainly hitting in the right direction. Chelsea, and 182 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 3: I think, not wanting to dismiss the celebration, if you like, 183 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 3: we could have on that change in behavior. If you 184 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 3: look at those rates of sixteen point six percent of 185 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 3: people reporting having consumed alcohol hazardously in the last year, 186 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 3: that's actually an increase, So it's about seven hundred and 187 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 3: twenty thousand adults as opposed to six hundred and seventy 188 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 3: thousand last year. So while we are seeing that rate 189 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 3: come down, and it has come down significantly over that 190 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 3: five year period, it was a small rise to seven 191 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 3: hundred and twenty thousand from sixty seventy. So I think 192 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 3: it's kind of plateau and of the view that we 193 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 3: still need to implement some further policy. So we're talking 194 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 3: about hazardous drinking and harm can occur even at moderate levels. 195 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 3: We're talking about cancer, We're talking about disease that can 196 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 3: occur at really low level. So I think the more 197 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 3: we manage to cut down not only consumption of alcohol 198 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 3: itself but hazardous drinking, the more we all stand to benefit. 199 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 2: It's difficult, isn't it, because it's a fine line between 200 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 2: targeting problem drinkers but also not inconveniencing those who like 201 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 2: a temple every now and then. 202 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 3: Right, that could be well a line that you hear 203 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 3: a lot, and it's a line you hear a lot 204 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 3: from the alcohol industry. When we look at minimum Munit price, 205 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 3: which has been imposed in Scotland very successfully and let's 206 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 3: be honest. They've imposed minimum munit price because Scotland can't 207 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 3: put up excise taxes. They're part of the Westminster system, 208 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 3: so they don't have the sovereignty or the ability to 209 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 3: impose excise tax but they did put in a minimum 210 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 3: munit price. Minim immunit price lifts the price only of 211 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 3: the really cheapest alcohol, and that's the alcohol we know 212 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 3: appeals most to young people and it appeals most to 213 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 3: dependent drinkers. So they've seen a thirteen percent reduction in 214 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 3: alcohol related death. So I think it's often a line 215 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 3: you hear from alcohol industry that we don't want to 216 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 3: impose more restrictions on the responsible drinkers. But actually, if 217 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 3: you apply alcohol policy, well, you can limit the most 218 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 3: harmful drinking while really not acting on people who are 219 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 3: enjoying it moderately, loately and with less or no harm. 220 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 3: And the other thing I think that is worth noting 221 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 3: is there's really high public support. I think the public 222 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 3: are quite aware of the issue that is alcohol, and 223 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 3: there's public support for things like banning alcohol sponsorship at 224 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 3: sporting events or making sure that the alcohol industry isn't 225 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 3: involved in developing government policies. Or increasing the price. To 226 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 3: be honest, there's reasonable public support on increasing price, so 227 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 3: I think there's public support for it. There's a wealth 228 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 3: of evidence in terms of the health burden and the 229 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 3: social and economic cost of alcohol. I think we really 230 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 3: do have a solution to reducing the burden on both 231 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 3: police emergency services, hospital time and also impacting positively health 232 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 3: and well being of people in Alda. 233 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:49,559 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us, Andrew and Chelsea. 234 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 3: Great to be here again. 235 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: For the industry side of this argument, we're joined now 236 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: on the front. 237 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 2: Page by New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council Executive Director Virginia Nichols. Virginia, 238 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 2: how does the alcohol and beverages industry respond to those 239 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 2: calls for tighter regulations. 240 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think the alcohol industry believes the current regulations, 241 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 5: guided by the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act for 242 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 5: most regions are adequate to manage harm while allowing responsible 243 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 5: businesses really to operate. I think that's the important thing there. 244 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 5: There's a whole lot of other areas that the industry 245 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 5: doesn't just have the actual legislation itself. Really, it's got 246 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 5: many other areas as well. For instance, the Advertising Standards 247 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 5: Authority has some pretty good. It's a voluntary code throughout 248 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 5: the code for advertising promotion of alcohol that's been recently 249 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 5: updated and that covers content and placement of all marketing. 250 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 5: And the code also ensures that the content of advertising 251 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 5: doesn't have strong or evident appeal to minors or encourage 252 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 5: a responsible consumption of alcohol, and it's all about timing 253 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 5: and placement, not to use anyone who appears to be 254 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 5: under twenty five years of age. And we've also got 255 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 5: a voluntary industry code for the ready to drink beverages 256 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 5: which is RTDs, again ensuring that those below the legal 257 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 5: purchasing age don't see those products. So there is a 258 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 5: lot of legislation that's actually legislation and regulation that's out there. 259 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 5: It's a highly regulated industry. 260 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: Have you seen those guidelines being looked at in New 261 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: South Wales? 262 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 2: They could see restrictions there around those pre mixed RTD drinks. 263 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: Could something like that happen here? 264 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 5: Well, it is happening here, So it's really different. The 265 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 5: New Zealand market's very different to the Australian market. As 266 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 5: I say, we're very well regulated both with our legislation 267 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 5: under A Section two thirty seven rarely. You can't a 268 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 5: person commits an offense if in the course of carrying 269 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 5: on a business that person, for instance, promotes or advertises 270 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 5: alcohol in a manner aimed at or that has or 271 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 5: is likely to have special appeal to minors, which is 272 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 5: a situation in Australia. That plus, any new product that's 273 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 5: launched in New Zealand as well has to go through 274 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 5: a pre vetting system and that can be done with 275 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 5: the Association of New Zealand Advertisers. What the Advertising Standards 276 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 5: Authority then does if there is something that's occurring that 277 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 5: is not appropriate with advertising, someone can complain to the 278 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 5: Advertising Standards Authority. There aren't a lot of complaints for alcohol. 279 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 5: If there are, most of them are actually agreed before 280 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 5: they have to go to the particular committee. So again, 281 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 5: and as to say, there is a voluntary industry code 282 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 5: for RTGs and cans. So the legislation in New Zealand 283 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 5: is actually very strong in this regard. 284 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 2: In Auckland, from December ninth, you won't be able to 285 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 2: buy alcohol from a bottle shop or a supermarket after 286 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 2: nine at the moment it's eleven. 287 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: Will that couple of hours make any kind of difference. 288 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 5: Do you think, Oh, look, I don't think so at all. Really, 289 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 5: so this is the new lap, the Auckland lap, I 290 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 5: think I think, as I say, it needs to be 291 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 5: balanced really with an understanding about how we're drinking, and 292 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 5: we've already spoken about. I really think that there it 293 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 5: has to be evidence based and is there evidence for instance, 294 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 5: to if you like close a bottle store or a supermarket, 295 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 5: you know, selling alcohol at nine? Is there something which 296 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 5: tells us this suddenly becomes a dangerous hour And there 297 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 5: actually is no evidence which actually says that. I think 298 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 5: all it's going to do is inconvenience consumers. Really, I 299 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 5: think the push really for tougher restrictions such as reducing 300 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 5: the number of alcohol stores and limiting operating ours, needs 301 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 5: to be based on evidence that these measures will make 302 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 5: a material difference in reducing harm. We don't see the 303 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 5: clear evidence. We haven't seen any of it. For instance, 304 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 5: a recent police study actually showed that majority of our 305 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 5: CCOL purchases are made around six pm, not during the 306 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 5: later hours that have been targeted. I mean we would 307 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 5: support in more sort of nuanced approach really that considers 308 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 5: all stakeholders, retailers, consumers, police, counsels and social agencies really 309 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 5: working together. I think we have to consider as well. Really, 310 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,159 Speaker 5: I mean retailers as well are operating in a highly 311 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 5: regulated environment. They are adding more and adding more restrictions 312 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 5: without evidence, can place unnecessary strain on businesses, particularly in 313 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 5: what's really challenging sort of economic conditions, and many retailers 314 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:34,639 Speaker 5: support that. Sales between nine and ten frints, it's a 315 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,880 Speaker 5: minimal and closing stores early may inconvenience and I'm sure 316 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:42,159 Speaker 5: it will inconvenience responsible drinkers such as shift workers, without 317 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 5: addressing hazardous consumption. Really, I think the focus should be 318 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 5: on quality of operators and ensuring they're well supported by 319 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 5: robust policy and strong community engagement, rather than reducing still 320 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 5: numbers or hours. 321 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:00,200 Speaker 2: What do you make of the rise of delivery services 322 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,440 Speaker 2: like the likes of Uber Eats selling alcohol? 323 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: Should there be some more safeguards around that? 324 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 5: So? I think first up, there there is an increase 325 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 5: in online delivery. I think some of that's occurred, particularly 326 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 5: since COVID. First of all, I think I should mention 327 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 5: that the survey that Alcohol Health Watch has done is 328 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 5: only just gone up in the journal today. We haven't 329 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 5: been able to actually review the document, but at the 330 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 5: moment the law does not require ID checks before you 331 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 5: deliver at the house. However, we do support a strengthening 332 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:35,120 Speaker 5: in this area, and in principle our retailers, so our 333 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:38,919 Speaker 5: retailers are both supermarkets and the bottled stores. They believe 334 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 5: the same licensing requirements that apply to alcohol sale and 335 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 5: supply in stores should apply to online purchases and delivery. 336 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 5: But it's also still going to be important too just 337 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 5: to get more feedback from the industry, review the survey, 338 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 5: consider a way forward which includes feedback from retailers, consumers, 339 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 5: police counsels and social agencies. 340 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, because in Australia they've kind of gotten around that 341 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 2: by doing things like scanning IDs when they're delivered. 342 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: And stuff like that. 343 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 5: Right, so I think we need to really have a 344 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:14,400 Speaker 5: look at this area and work out the appropriate processes 345 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 5: that we need to put in place to strengthen really 346 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 5: this area. But at the moment, there is no requirement 347 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 5: to have an ID check when you get to the house. 348 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 5: Most responsible retailers have a system, if you like, of 349 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 5: when the order is placed understanding and knowing that this 350 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 5: person is above eighteen. But I think when a person 351 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 5: gets to the house. We really need to look at 352 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 5: the processes that occur then. 353 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 6: Twenty years ago, drinking was cool. Now the cool kids 354 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 6: are those who recognize the harm. 355 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 7: The change really has come from young people themselves. 356 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 6: It seems young people are more knowledgeable about the risks 357 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 6: of alcohol abuse and risks their ambition. 358 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 7: Young people seemed pretty much enjoying life day to day, 359 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 7: whereas today's young people were more peture focused. 360 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,679 Speaker 6: Those who are drinking are still often indulging in the 361 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 6: time hon it way. 362 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 7: Bin drinking is still the typical drinking style and often 363 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 7: young people who are drinking heavily in this age group 364 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 7: have got other issues going on. 365 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 2: The New Zealand Health Survey shows that Kiwis are taking 366 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 2: part in hazardous drinking less now, doesn't it? 367 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 5: It absolutely does. It shows really that there's a cultural 368 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 5: shift in the way Kiwis are drinking and has it 369 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 5: a drinking of harmful Alcohol consumption amongst adults was similar 370 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 5: to last year and it's declined four point seven percentage 371 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 5: points in the last four years, which is great to 372 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 5: sixteen point six percent and the largest decrease and has 373 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 5: it iss drinking over the past five years was among 374 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 5: young New Zealanders the eighteen to twenty fours. I mean 375 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 5: that's declined by thirteen point two percentage points, which was 376 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,479 Speaker 5: at thirty five point eight percent and is now at 377 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 5: twenty two point six percent. It's still higher than what 378 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:04,919 Speaker 5: we want, but the trending is really exactly where we 379 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 5: want it. The stats New Zealand alcohol consumption per capita 380 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 5: has also declined by twenty nine percent since nineteen eighty six. 381 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:13,919 Speaker 5: And as I say, and as I mentioned, when we 382 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 5: compare our drinking with other countries in the OECD, Keywis 383 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,640 Speaker 5: are drinking less than the OECD average, which includes less 384 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 5: than the US, UK, Australia, Germany, France and Ireland. 385 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 2: When it comes to the alcohol industry, do you think 386 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:32,880 Speaker 2: there are misconceptions I suppose around the alcohol industry being 387 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 2: unwilling to change. 388 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 5: Perhaps I think that there are some of those misconceptions 389 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 5: out there, but there's also an understanding by consumers that 390 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 5: the industry has really changed over time. We are drinking differently. 391 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:49,200 Speaker 5: Why are we drinking differently? Yes, the industry is providing 392 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 5: new and interesting products such as no and low alcohol products, 393 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 5: but we as a society as well have actually changed 394 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 5: our requirements of what we want, what's acceptable to drink, 395 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 5: how we should be drinking, the support we put around 396 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 5: each other. I think there can be some misconceptions about 397 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 5: the industry, but the industry is very interested in how 398 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 5: we can reduce harmful drinkers. Nobody in the industry wants 399 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 5: harmful drinkers. 400 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,400 Speaker 1: Would the industry be open to something like say, minimum 401 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 1: unit pricing. 402 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 5: Overseas that for instance in Australia At the moment in 403 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 5: the Northern Territory they are actually saying that actually hasn't 404 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,919 Speaker 5: worked and they're looking at other options. In Scotland, although 405 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 5: they've re put it in so this means that we 406 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 5: will all pay and that means eighty four percent of 407 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 5: responsible drinkers will pay more, and the thought that this 408 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 5: may reduce hazard as drinkers. The research is, and the 409 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,879 Speaker 5: research out of Scotland is this has not worked. What 410 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 5: happens is that responsible drinkers drink less and has it 411 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 5: a drinkers sadly still continue to consume the alcohol that 412 00:22:58,560 --> 00:22:59,959 Speaker 5: they want to need. Sadly. 413 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us Virginia great. 414 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 5: Thank you very much. 415 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 2: That's it for this episode of the Front Page. You 416 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 2: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 417 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 2: at enzdherld dot co dot nz. The Front Page is 418 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 2: produced by Ethan Sills and Richard Martin, who is also 419 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 2: our sound engineer. I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe to the Front 420 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 2: Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and 421 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 2: tune in tomorrow for another look behind the headlines.