NCJ Number
108733
Date Published
1985
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Current New Zealand liquor laws must be reformed: they are unsatisfactory in content and expression, lack a coherent policy, are full of anomalies, and are almost impossible to comprehend.
Abstract
An examination of the objectives behind current liquor laws raises many issues, particularly those related to attempts to cure or reduce social evils or which are unrealistic, ineffective, or unenforceable. For liquor laws to be effective, they must accord with the expectations of responsible consumers, be intelligible and clear, maximize freedom of choice of the times and circumstances in which liquor can be bought and consumed, and be directed only against those abuses that are susceptible to control by legislation. In addition, such laws should be as simple as practicable in substance, administration, and procedure. They also should be capable of accommodating changes in social patterns and preferences without frequent amendment. Legal intervention can take two forms: controlling or penalizing abuses and behaviors related to abuses (e.g., drunk driving) and protecting vulnerable classes, such as minors; and regulating the availability of liquor through licensing. Licensing can keep out the criminal fringe, promote accountability, assist enforcement, and engender more responsible attitudes toward alcohol use.