Greens welcome Government coming to party on reducing alcohol harm

The Green Party are celebrating today’s introduction of the Government’s Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill, effectively adopting Part One of Chlöe Swarbrick’s Harm Minimisation Bill.

“Leadership from our communities, kaupapa Māori public health organisations and local Governments across Aotearoa have put this issue on the map. They are the reason we’re here today,” says Green Drug Reform Spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick.

“These changes will wrangle back some of the power for communities to decide how - and how much - alcohol is sold in their neighbourhoods. 

“The Government’s decision to act on special appeals came after more than a year of Green campaigning alongside experts, Councils, NGOs and communities across this country. When communities organise to make change happen, we make the Government listen.

“We’re stoked to secure this win and I’m encouraged by the Minister’s spirit of collaboration on the second tranche of reform.

“Political willpower must meet the avalanche of evidence that shows we can reduce alcohol harm by desaturating our neighbourhoods of alcohol advertising and marketing, designed to glamourise and normalise excessive consumption. The work, obviously, does not stop here for drug harm minimisation.

“Thank you specifically to Hāpai te Hauora and Alcohol Healthwatch who led the Pass the Bill campaign, garnering more than 8,000 signatures and the support of dozens of heavyweight organisations across Aotearoa,” says Chlöe Swarbrick. 

Latest Drug Law Reform Announcements

Story

Green Party Bill to protect overdose emergency callers from legal risks receives cross party support

The Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Amendment Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking an important step toward ensuring that...
Read More

Story

Member’s Bill an opportunity to save lives

A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter which aims to prevent deaths from drug overdose, the Drug Overdose (Assistance Prote...
Read More

Story

Green Party calls for law change to aid overdose response

The Green Party is launching a Member’s Bill that would allow people to call for help for someone experiencing a drug overdose without fear of crim...
Read More

Story

Greens cheers community win to reduce alcohol harm

The Green Party is today celebrating the passage of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Bill.
Read More

Story

Greens welcome Government joining the party to deal with disposable vapes

The Green Party are welcoming the Government’s announcement of regulations to curb youth vaping.
Read More

Story

No more Biden time on cannabis decriminalisation

The Green Party is calling on the Government to follow President Joe Biden’s lead and decriminalise cannabis. 
Read More