An alcohol watchdog is urging a parliamentary select committee to reject a bill allowing bars to open later during Rugby World Cup matches, saying it would set a dangerous precedent.
Alcohol Healthwatch, a charitable trust contracted by the Health Ministry, is just one of 63 submitters on ACT MP David Seymour's member's bill.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Mr Seymour said he had presented the bill because many of the games being played in the UK from mid-September would be shown in the early hours of the morning here.
But Alcohol Healthwatch said the weight of evidence showed that longer opening hours were an important contributor to alcohol abuse.
Its director, Rebecca Williams, said the changes were just based on the whim of the hospitality industry.
"It's a load of bollocks, you know, we've got 101 different ways that you can enjoy the Rugby World Cup - with or without alcohol. You don't need to have pubs open necessarily.
"I think that their [hospitality Industry] response indicates this is not about the rugby. This is about booze."
The bill would undermine the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, which aimed to address New Zealand's binge-drinking culture by restricting trading hours, she said.
The process was "undemocratic" and set a "very dangerous precedent", she said.
"It's basically saying that anyone with a vested interest can front up to an MP and say 'oh well, this is all a bit too much trouble for me. I'd like you to just to change the legislation so I can do something different for a few weeks or a few months.
"This is just basically putting our laws up for grabs at any point in time," she said.
New Zealand Medical Association chair Stephen Child said the legislation would take New Zealand in the wrong direction.
"It's not necessary, it sends the wrong message and we don't need irresponsible drinking in New Zealand," he said.
Hospitality sector responds
Hospitality New Zealand said the law change would ensure pubs and clubs could meet the "legitimate needs" of patrons.
That would in no way diminish the responsibility of venues to minimise alcohol harm in a safe, friendly environment, it said.
Chief executive Bruce Robertson said there were a lot of alarmists out there and there was no suggestion that it would make New Zealand's binge drinking culture worse.
"Binge drinkers, generally, are people that are binge drinking at home or away from licensed premises so we just don't see this as a binge drinking event.
"This is an event where people want to go and watch some rugby," he said.
The committee is due to report back to Parliament by 26 August so it can be passed before the start of the tournament.
