Availability of liquor concerns youth taskforce - 19/10/2011

The Community Taskforce on Youth Wellbeing is expressing concern about the availability of liquor within the community, prompted by applications for new retail liquor outlets to open in the district.

“There is growing research which shows that in areas where there is greater availability of alcohol there are also more alcohol related incidences including injury, assaults, domestic and youth violence and drink driving,” says Taskforce co-chair Cr Philippa Baker-Hogan.

“It’s important to remember that availability of alcohol is not just related to retail outlets but also through events and parties which people attend.”

“The Taskforce is focussed on our young people growing up with positive role models in a supportive community. For many people the availability of alcohol is about convenience - the potential harm caused by alcohol being more readily available to the whole community can easily be overlooked.”

Taskforce co-chair Jay Rerekura believes that communities have the potential to mitigate those dangers through both the availability of alcohol and through consumption habits.

“As a community we can influence many alcohol related problems which impact on our young people, through controlling the number of alcohol outlets, stricter enforcement against underage sales through test-purchasing operations and getting behind initiatives and programmes which support safe messages in relation to alcohol.

“These are the kinds of things that the Taskforce can focus on to ensure that our young people grow up with a sensible and responsible approach to alcohol.”