NZ's Law Commission Proposes Liquor Act

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

05 August 2009

New Zealand’s Law Commission has released its Issues Paper, entitled “Alcohol In Our Lives”, part of its project reviewing the regulatory framework relating to the sale and supply of liquor.

Sir Geoffrey Palmer, the Law Commission president, introduced the paper, saying that it “states the problems and offers some tentative solutions.” New Zealand, the paper continues, “has some serious problems with the use of alcohol.” Anti-social, criminal and health effects are described, as are the increased risks faced by young people.

Among the options the Commission is putting forward for public consideration are the drafting of a new Sale of Liquor Act and the reduction of excise tax on low alcohol products, to encourage their consumption over products with higher alcohol content. In addition, it would expand the range of conditions that can be imposed on licensees, and introduce graduated licensing fees to ensure low risk operators are not unfairly burdened.

There will be three months, until the end of October, for public submissions on the Commission’s review. The Law Commission has created an online consultation website to generate public discussion on the issues. It will use all comments and submissions to help frame its final recommendations to the government, which are due in March next year.

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